Curaidh Comórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh Gael Linn 2011 ag ceiliúradh!
April 1, 2011
Well done to the debating teams from Presentation Secondary School, Thurles and Sandford Park School, Ranelagh, Dublin, winners of the All-Ireland Final of Comórtas an Phiarsaigh Gael Linn 2011 ! The debates were held in the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise on Thursday last, 31 March 2011. This competition has been organized nationally by Gael Linn since 1960 and over 150 teams took part this year.
In the junior section of the competition, the young orators spoke knowledgeably on the topic ‘Tá déagóirí na tíre seo beag beann ar an gcúlú eacnamaíochta!’ ( Irish teenagers are impervious to the recession!). There were cheers of delight from their supporters when it was announced that the Thurles students were the 2011 All-Ireland Champions!
They won out over teams from Athlone Community College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath; Mercy Secondary School ( Mounthawk ), Tralee, Co. Kerry and St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Lucan, Co. Dublin. Teachers Edel Ní Mheachair and Eibhlín de Stainléigh helped and directed the team on their road to victory since November last.
Sandford Park School, Ranelagh, Dublin won the senior section of the competition against teams from Presentation College, Cork; Meánscoil Mhuire Secondary School, Longford Town and Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington, Co. Laois. They debated the topical motion: ‘Ba cheart fáil réidh le Seanad Éireann!’ (Seanad Éireann should be abolished!) and many interesting arguments were put forward by each speaker. The team mentor and teacher, Diarmuid Curraoin, was justifiably proud of his students.
Guest chairperson on the night, Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, steered the proceedings with great aclarity and praised all the young orators for their command of current affairs. He expressed particular interest in the motion debated in the senior section for obvious reasons!
The winning teams in each section were each presented with the Gael Linn perpetual trophy and a cheque for €1,000, while prizes of €250 each were awarded to the other teams who had participated. As part of the prize also, the winners in the junior section, Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, have been invited to take part in ‘Ri Chéile’, a debating festival run by Comunn na Gaidhlig, Scotland and Gael Linn with funding from the organization, Colmcille. This festival brings together young debaters from both Ireland and Scotland for a few days fun when they will get the chance to explore the similarities between their respective languages. The 2011 festival will take place in Dublin in the autumn.
Congratulating the winners on their great achievement, Gael Linn CEO Antoine Ó Coileáin thanked the teachers for their help and dedication in preparing the teams and said: ‘The high level of participation and the high standard of debate bear testimony to an increased emphasis on developing students’ communicative skills. Gael Linn has always believed that pupils should acquire good levels of competence in spoken Irish and we are pleased that this will be rewarded by increased marks for the oral Irish exam from next year.’
Coláiste Phádraig (S)
April 1, 2011
