Winning words at Comórtas Uí Chadhain 2014 debating final!
February 3, 2014
Young orators from An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway and Dundalk, Co. Louth, have every reason to celebrate having been declared winners at the All-Ireland Final of Comórtas Uí Chadhain 2014. The event took place in the Examination Hall, Trinity College, Dublin, with the support of the college’s Oifig na Gaeilge, on Thursday last, 30 January 2014. Organised by Gael Linn,with the financial support of Foras na Gaeilge, Comórtas Uí Chadhain attracts the debating teams from Gaeltacht schools and Irish-medium schools, and over 50 teams have taken part in this national competition since October last.
In the junior section of the competition, the topic for debate was Tá deireadh le ‘comhar na gcomharsan’ in Éirinn!’ ( Good neighbourliness is at an end in Ireland ! ) Teams from Coláiste Eoin, Booterstown, Co. Dublin and Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, Tralee, Co. Kerry spoke in favour of the motion, with teams from Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal and Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway, in opposition. The young orators were well-informed on the subject, and put their respective arguments across to the large audience comprehensively ! The standard of debating was so high, that the five adjudicators, Liam Mac a’Mhaoir, Colm Mac Lochlainn, Mícheál Ó Fathaigh, Caitríona Ní Bhaoill and Aingeal Ní Chonghaola, took some time in coming to their decision. There was great jubilation among the supporters of the Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin team ( Mary Ellen Ní Fhatharta, Clíona Ní Laoi and Laila Ní Fhatharta ) when they were declared winners ! The school has a long tradition in debating, and teacher Máirín Ní Dhomhnaill was extremely proud of her pupils’ great achievement, particularly as the school won the senior title in last year’s final !
A lively debate followed between the senior teams again from Coláiste Eoin, Dublin and Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway, who were joined this time by students from Coláiste Feichín Naofa, Corr na Móna, Co. Galway, and Coláiste Rís, Dundalk, Co. Louth. The motion, ‘Tá géarghá le páirtí nua polaitíochta i bPoblacht na hÉireann! ‘ ( There is urgent need for a new political party in the Republic of Ireland) was well thrashed out by the speakers, with plenty of point-scoring and rebuttal from both sides! . Following further deliberation by the judging panel, first prize in this section went to brothers Mícheál and Neasán Mac Suibhne, along with Bearnard Ó Thoirealaigh, from Coláiste Rís, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Seán Ó Coigligh, the teacher who guided the pupils on their road to victory since October last, was delighted when they lifted the Gael Linn cup !
Guest chairperson on the night, former Government Minister Mary Hanafin, a former participant in the competition herself, praised the speakers in both debates for their command of current affairs and excellent oratorical skills. Showing a particular interest in the opinions expressed in the senior debate on the need for a new political party in the Republic of Ireland, Ms. Hanafin did not come down on either side, but encouraged the young people to take an active part in politics regardless, and recommended that, if they want to exert influence in time to come, they join some political party, rather than remaining independent.
The winning teams in both sections were each presented with the Gael Linn perpetual trophy and a cheque for €1,000, while prizes of €250 each were awarded to all other participating teams. Congratulating the winning teams, Antoine Ó Coileáin, CEO, Gael Linn remarked: ‘The Gael Linn debating competitions have been an important element in Irish education for over fifty years and are a major stimulus in the promotion of excellence in spoken Irish. Great credit is due to the generations of teachers who had championed the debates, giving many thousands of pupils the opportunity to participate’. As part of the prize in the Junior section also, the winners, Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, have been invited to take part in ‘Ri Chéile’, a public speaking festival organized jointly by Gael Linn and Comunn na Gaidhlig, Scotland with funding from the organization, Colmcille. This annual festival provides a platform at which young people from both Ireland and Scotland get the chance to explore the similarities between their respective languages and the 2014 festival will take place in Scotland in the autumn.
Further information: Niamh de Búrca 01:6753303/Niamh@gael-linn.ie or
Jamie Ó Tuama 01:6753303/jamieot@gael-linn.ie
