Irish Times Debate

Last updated

The Irish Times National Debating Championship is a debating competition for students in higher education in Ireland. It has been run since 1960, sponsored by The Irish Times . While most participants represent institutions in the Republic of Ireland, institutions in Northern Ireland are also eligible.

Contents

History

The Union of Students in Ireland approached The Irish Times in 1960 to secure sponsorship for an Irish equivalent of the Observer Mace, [1] a debating competition started in Britain in 1954. The "Debating Union of Ireland" was formed for a time, [1] but later The Irish Times would appoint a student convenor each year, often a previous year's winner. [1] Until the 1970s, the best teams and individual went on to compete in the final of the Observer Mace. [2] (The Mace no longer has an individual competition.)

In 1979, Gary Holbrook of Metropolitan State College of Denver was on sabbatical at Trinity College Dublin and was impressed with the debate. [3] In 1980, he persuaded Coors Brewers to sponsor a debate tour of U.S. colleges for the winning team and individual speakers. [3] The Irish were struck there by the very different approach of American debaters. [4] Holbrook subsequently organised "Friends of the Irish Debate", [5] sponsored by The Irish Times and Aer Lingus, to make the tour annual. [1] The tour is now organised by the U.S. National Parliamentary Debate Association.

In 2010, a special celebration marked the debate's 50th anniversary. [6]

Format

The competition is generally considered the most prestigious in Ireland, due in part to the additional media attention provided by its sponsor, but also the status of some of the former winners, and the US tour which forms part of the prize. Running between November and February, it operates on a knockout basis, with the initial entrants (usually between 150 and 170 teams) being whittled down over successive rounds, culminating in a Grand Final with four teams and four individuals competing for team honours (The Demosthenes Trophy) and an individual prize (The Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy).

The format of the competition is now unique in third-level debating, combining team and individual roles. The first round consists solely of team entrants, from which both teams and individuals progress, thus creating subsequent rounds featuring both. Individuals may be selected from a team at any stage of the competition, including to win the competition at the final stage. The winning individual cannot be selected from the winning team, though this restriction was not observed in the 1972 competition, where Donal Deeny took both prizes. [2] In that year, the judges nominated Kathleen Boyle to progress to the Observer Mace individual competition. [2]

The only other competition to adopt the same format is the All-Ireland Schools' Debating Competition. [7]

Winners

By year

YearTeam
Society
Team
Speaker 1
Team
Speaker 2
Individual
Society
Individual
Speaker
1960 [8] King's Inns Aidan Browne Charles Lysaght TCD Hist Neville Keery
1961 [8] TCD Phil Hallam JohnstonJack Daniels UCD L&H Peter Donnelly
1962 [8] QUB John MurtaghMichael EganTCD HistIan Blake
1963 [8] UCD L&H Patrick Cosgrave Anthony Clare RCSI Desmond King [2]
1964 [8] UCD L&HPatrick CosgraveAnthony ClareKing's InnsTerry McMahon
1965 [8] TCD HistDavid McConnellCian Ó hÉigeartaighQUB Literific Eamonn McCann
1966 [8] TCD HistDavid McConnellCian Ó hÉigeartaighUCD L&HEsmond Smyth
1967 [8] UCC Philosoph Donnchadh Ó Corráin Anthony J. AdolphKing's InnsKevin O'Higgins
1968 [8] UCD L&HRoddy Buckley Dermot Gleeson UCD L&H Henry Kelly
1969 [8] QUBBrendan Keenan Derek Davis UCC PhilosophAnthony J. Adolph
1970 [8] UCD L&HNeal ClarkeDonal O'RiainUCD L&H Adrian Hardiman
1971 [8] TCD Hist Donnell Deeny Gregory Murphy DIT Bolton Street Marian Finucane
1972 [8] TCD Hist Donnell Deeny Frank BannisterTCD Hist
(St Mary's, Belfast)
Donnell Deeny
(Kathleen Boyle) [2]
1973 [8] QUBBilly McRoryJimmy HughesUCD L&HAdrian Hardiman
1974 [8] TCD HistDavid O'SullivanJames Connolly NUU Alex Lowry
1975 [8] NUUMichael Hughes Kevin Cahill King's Inns Brian Curtin
1976 [8] UCD L&HPaul Gill Gerry Danaher Maynooth Deirdre Murphy
1977 [8] MaynoothPatrick HennessyGerry MaherUCD L&HPatrick Healy
1978 [8] UCD Law Soc Conor Gearty Donal O'Donnell King's InnsTurlough O'Donnell
1979 [8] UCD Law SocConor GeartyJohn O'DonnellUCD L&HMaurice Biggar
1980 [8] UCD L&HMaurice BiggarEugene McCagueKing's InnsBrian Havel
1981 [8] UCD L&H Charlie Meenan Gerry Stembridge TCD HistSean Moran
1982 [8] TCD PhilMichael ByrneGerry FoleyUCC PhilosophLiam Plant
1983 [8] UCG Lit & Deb Eoin O'MaoileoinDamian CrawfordTCD HistBill Maguire
1984 [8] TCD HistEoin McCullough Brian Murray UCD L&HPat Whyms
1985 [8] UCC Philosoph David Holland Brian HassettTCD HistGideon Taylor
1986 [8] TCD Phil Declan McCavana David Keane UCG Lit & DebBrendan Wilkins
1987 [8] TCD HistAidan KanePaul GavinUCG Lit & DebConor Bowman
1988 [8] UCC PhilosophAdrian HuntTim MurphyUCC PhilosophRobert Plant
1989 [8] King's InnsMaeve CollinsPat TwomeyUCD Law SocJulian Clare
1990 [8] UCC PhilosophBrendan LenihanDon O'Sullivan Cadet School Tom Clonan
1991 [8] King's InnsTim O'LearyPat TreacyUCD L&HBarra Faughnan
1992 [2] UCD L&HJohanna FarrellyPat O'KeeffeUCD Law Soc Cian Ferriter
1993 [9] TCD HistBrendan FoleyGavin TitleyUCC Philosoph Kieran Healy
1994 [10] UCD L&H Dara Ó Briain Marcus DowlingKing's InnsBernard Dunleavy
1995 [11] UCC PhilosophAlan RobertsDiarmuid ConwayUCC PhilosophGerry Hyde
1996 [12] King's InnsHelen Boyle Paul McDermott TCD HistDouglas Clarke
1997 [13] UL Debating UnionSeamus DoranPadraic O'Halloran SADSI Matthew McCabe
1998 [14] UCC PhilosophMuireann Ní ChinnéideElizabeth BarrettTCD HistPaul Gleeson
1999 [15] UCD L&H Caoilfhionn Gallagher Bernadette QuigleyKing's Inns Rossa Fanning
2000 [16] King's InnsMichael Deasy Rónán Mullen SADSILouise Rouse
2001 [17] TCD HistBríd McGrathYvonne CampbellTCD HistAoife Titley
2002 [18] TCD HistLouie MooneyBrendan KellyUCC PhilosophConor Buckley
2003 [19] UCD L&HLeo MulrooneyColm CoyneTCD HistAlison McIntyre
2004 [20] DCU Ian KehoeMichael MoriartyKing's InnsPaul Brady
2005 [21] King's InnsDavid WhelanSam CollinsUCD L&HFrank Kennedy
2006 [22] King's InnsBarry GlynnMark MurphyUCC PhilosophDiarmuid Early
2007 [23] TCD HistDavid BoughtonCiaran DennyKing's InnsDavid Quinn
2008 [24] TCD HistChristopher KissaneDavid KennyUCD L&HStephen Boyle
2009 [25] TCD HistJohn GallagherAndrea MulliganUCD L&HJeremy Kinsella
2010 [26] TCD HistNiamh Ní MhaoileoinNiall Sherry Griffith College Dublin Sean O'Quigley
2011King's InnsLorcan PriceÁine Hartigan TCD Law SocMark Thuillier
2012 RCSI Eoin KelleherElizabeth Ahern-Flynn UCD Med SocMichael Conroy
2013 [27] TCD Phil Bram Stoker Club Liam BrophyJohn EngleTCD HistKate Brady
2014SADSIDearbhla O'GormanKieran O'SullivanUCD Med SocWilliam Courtney
2015TCD PhilRónán O'ConnorHugh GuideraUCD L&HEoin MacLachlan
2016SADSIRoss O'MahonyAaron VickeryUCD L&HClíodhna Ní Chéileachair
2017UCD LawAisling TullyDara KeenanSADSILeah Morgan
2018UCD LawCian LeahyAodhán PeeloUCD L&HAmy Crean
2019 [28] TCD HistRonan DalyDaniel GilliganKing's InnsKevin Roche
2020 [29] TCD PhilEoghan QuinnAislinn CartyUCD L&HRachael Mullally
2021 [30] MaynoothRí AnumuduChikemka Abuchi-OgbondaTCD HistGabrielle Fullam
2022 [31] SADSIRoss MerrimanConor WhiteUCD LawBevin Armstrong
2023 [32] SADSIAilbhe NoonanGavin Dowd MTU Debating SocietyOliver McKenna
2024 [33] King's InnsCiara McLoughlinCeara Tonna-BarthetSADSIClíodhna McHugh

By society

SocietyUniversityTeam winsIndividual wins
College Historical Society (Hist) Trinity College Dublin 1511
Literary and Historical Society (L&H) University College Dublin 1215
Law Students' Debating Society of Ireland King's Inns 910
UCC Philosophical Society (Philosoph) University College Cork 67
Literary and Scientific Society (Literific) Queen's University Belfast 31
University Philosophical Society (Phil)Trinity College, Dublin40
Law Society University College Dublin33
Solicitors' Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland Law Society of Ireland 34
Literary and Debating Society (Lit & Deb) NUI Galway 12
RCSI Debating Society Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland 11
New University of Ulster 11
St. Patrick's College, Maynooth 11
Dublin City University 10
Law Society Trinity College Dublin 10
Bram Stoker Club Trinity College Dublin 10
University of Limerick 10
Griffith College Dublin 01
Cadet School 01
Dublin Institute of Technology 01
Medicine Society University College Dublin 02

Notable participants

Many winners have gone on to have successful careers in law. [6] Former winners in the legal field include Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland Donal O'Donnell, Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman, former Managing Partner and Chairman of Arthur Cox (law firm) Eugene McCague, High Court of Ireland judges David Holland (judge) and Cian Ferriter, Senior Counsels Paul Anthony McDermott, Rossa Fanning, John O'Donnell, Dermot Gleeson, [8] Aidan Browne, [8] and Gregory Murphy, [8] King's Counsel at Doughty Street Chambers, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, professors Conor Gearty, Kieran Healy and Charles Lysaght, and Circuit Court judges Esmond Smyth, Kevin O'Higgins, [8] and Brian Curtin. James Connolly, winner in 1974, was Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland and recently chair of public inquiries in Dublin.

David O'Sullivan, winner in 1974, became secretary general to the President of the European Commission. Maeve Collins, winner in 1989, is a former Irish Ambassador to Vietnam and now a Director General within the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs. Neville Keery, 1960 winner, was a member of the 12th Seanad, and later Head of Libraries of the European Commission. [34]

Other well-known former winners include broadcasters Anthony Clare, Henry Kelly, Derek Davis, Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh, [8] and Marian Finucane; comedian Dara Ó Briain; and writers Eamonn McCann, Gerry Stembridge, Kevin Cahill. The losing finalists in 1966 included future Presidents Mary Robinson and Michael D. Higgins. [35] Future Tánaiste Mary Harney [1] and Minister Mary Hanafin [6] also appeared as finalists.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinity College Dublin</span> Sole college of the University of Dublin

Trinity College Dublin, officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, is the sole constituent college of the University of Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I who issued a royal charter on the advice of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland Adam Loftus, it is Ireland's oldest university and was modelled after the collegiate universities of both Oxford and Cambridge. The epithets "Trinity College Dublin" and "University of Dublin" are usually considered as synonyms, as only one such college was ever established. Named after the Holy Trinity, it stands on the former grounds of the Augustinian Priory of All Hallows, and served as the principal university of the Protestant Ascendancy elites for over two centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Dublin</span> University in Dublin, Ireland, founded 1592

The University of Dublin, corporately designated as the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a research university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dublin. It was founded in 1592 when Queen Elizabeth I issued a royal charter for Trinity College as "the mother of a university", thereby making it Ireland's oldest operating university. It was modelled after the collegiate universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but unlike these affiliated ancient universities, only one college was ever established; as such, the designations "Trinity College Dublin" and "University of Dublin" are usually synonymous for practical purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivana Bacik</span> Irish politician (born 1968)

Ivana Catherine Bacik is an Irish politician who has been the Leader of the Labour Party since 24 March 2022 and a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Bay South constituency since winning a by-election on 9 July 2021. Bacik previously served as Leader of the Labour Party in the Seanad from 2011 to 2021, and a Senator for the Dublin University constituency from 2007 to 2021. She previously served as Deputy leader of the Seanad from 2011 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coláiste Iognáid</span> School in Galway, Ireland

Coláiste Iognáid SJ, a bilingual secondary school, is located on Sea Road in Galway, Ireland. It was founded in 1645 and has had numerous locations over the years before its current home. The college is a co-educational, non-fee-paying secondary school and one of a number of Jesuit schools in Ireland. There are approximately 600 pupils in the school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Historical Society</span> Debating society at Trinity College Dublin

The College Historical Society (CHS) – popularly referred to as The Hist – is a debating society at Trinity College Dublin. It was established within the college in 1770 and was inspired by the club formed by the philosopher Edmund Burke during his own time in Trinity in 1747. It holds the Guinness World Record as the "world's oldest student society".

The University Philosophical Society, commonly known as The Phil, is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1683, it describes itself as the oldest student, collegial and paper-reading society in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union of Students in Ireland</span>

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. Founded in 1959, USI represents more than 374,000 students in over forty colleges across the island of Ireland. Its mission is to work for rights of students and a fair and equal third-level education system in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synge Street CBS</span> Christian Brothers-founded school in Dublin, Ireland

Synge Street CBS (colloquially Synger) is a boys' non-fee-paying state school, under the auspices of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, located in the Dublin 8 area of Dublin, Ireland. The school was founded in 1864 by Canon Edward McCabe and Brother Edward O'Flaherty, as part of a mid-nineteenth century programme to expand the provision of Catholic schooling across the city, particularly for poorer boys. It was important in developing multiple new Christian Brothers schools in the local area and beyond.

The Literary and Historical Society (L&H) is the oldest society in University College Dublin (UCD), which according to its constitution is the 'College Debating Union'. Founded in 1855 by Cardinal John Henry Newman, as of 2017 it had over 5000 enrolled members, and has been the largest student society in UCD.

The Fitzgibbon Cup is the trophy for the premier hurling championship among higher education institutions in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCC Philosophical Society</span> Debating society at University College Cork, Ireland

The UCC Philosophical Society, also known as the 'Philosoph', is the largest debating society at University College Cork, Ireland. The Philosoph was founded in 1850, making it the oldest society at UCC. The society carries out a number of functions, including weekly debates with guest speakers, participating in debating competitions, running workshops for the students of UCC to develop their public speaking skills and running debating competitions and workshops for schoolchildren. In the 1960s, the Nobel Peace Prize winner Seán MacBride described the Philosoph as "the centre of independent thought in Ireland". House meetings of the society are held every Monday evening during UCC's term time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugo MacNeill (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Hugh Patrick MacNeill OBE, commonly known as Hugo MacNeill, is a former rugby union player who played for Ireland, Leinster, the French Barbarians and the British and Irish Lions during the 1980s. During the late 1970s he also played soccer for University College Dublin and Dublin University. After retiring from sport, MacNeill went on to serve as a director for Goldman Sachs. He has also worked as a rugby pundit for TV3 and BBC Radio 5 Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University College Dublin Law Society</span> Student debating society

The UCD Law Society is one of the largest student societies in Europe. Established in 1911 as 'The Legal and Economic Society', as of 2009 it had approximately 4100 members drawn from the various faculties of the university. The society holds weekly house debates, mock trials, moot court competitions and careers events, as well as inviting notable figures to address the society. Individuals who have addressed the society include President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins, former Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and President of the European Council Donald Tusk. The society's motto is "Ar son na Córa".

St. Conleth's College is a private co-educational Catholic school in Ballsbridge, Dublin, founded on 4 September 1939 by Bernard Sheppard. The current principal of the senior school is Donal Ó Dúlaing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University College Dublin</span> Public research university in Ireland

University College Dublin is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 38,417 students, it is Ireland's largest university and among Europe's most prestigious.

Neville Keery is a writer and activist and has had a career as a journalist, administrative officer, senator, and European Commission official.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iseult O'Malley</span> Irish judge (born 1964)

Iseult Pauline Mary O'Malley is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since October 2015. She previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2012 to 2015.

The Collingwood Cup is an association football cup competition featuring university teams from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is organised by the Irish Universities Football Union, and is the oldest surviving all Ireland association football competition. University College Dublin were the inaugural winners, and later became the cup's most successful team. The competition has been played almost annually since 1914, taking a break during the First World War/Irish War of Independence era and again in 1932 and 1933 due to a dispute between the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland. In 2014 the Collingwood Cup celebrated its centenary with a dinner that featured Martin O'Neill as a guest speaker. The 2014 final was broadcast live on Setanta Sports and the tournament was sponsored by Eircom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Doyle</span> Irish engineer, professor and academic leader

Linda E. Doyle is an Irish academic and educator who is the 45th Provost of Trinity College Dublin, the university's chief officer, having assumed the office in August 2021. An electrical engineer, she has had a long academic career at Trinity, from the 1990s, most recently as Professor of Engineering and the Arts, in addition to holding other management roles such as Dean of Research. She has also led one telecommunications research centre at the university, and was the founding director of another, the multi-institution organisation known as CONNECT. Doyle has worked as a member of regulatory and advisory bodies in both Ireland, on broadband network strategy, and the UK, on mobile spectrum allocation. She is or has also been a director of public outreach projects such as Science Gallery Dublin and its international network, of two non-profit art galleries, and of two university spin-off companies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Murphy, Christina (31 January 1992). "Conquerors of the "bear pit"". The Irish Times . p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Murphy, Christina (14 February 1992). "Finding the missing debaters". The Irish Times . p. 28. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Debate winners invited to US". The Irish Times . 10 March 1980. p. 13. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  4. Murphy, Christina (18 December 1980). "Dazzling with Blarney". The Irish Times . p. 10. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  5. "Fourth estate under scrutiny". The Irish Times . 31 January 1992. p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 Holmquist, Kate (19 February 2010). "Where the sharpest pit their wits". The Irish Times. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  7. O'Neill, Liam. "Convenor" . Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 "Where are they now?". The Irish Times . 31 January 1992. p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  9. "TCD wins student debate". The Irish Times. 6 February 1993. p. 4.
  10. "L & H wins final of debate competition". The Irish Times. 28 February 1994. p. 6.
  11. Connolly, John (28 February 1995). "Victory by the Lee". The Irish Times. p. 4, E&L.
  12. "Presenting future stars?". The Irish Times. 20 February 1996.
  13. "Limerick University makes its debut win in debate final". The Irish Times. 12 February 1997.
  14. "Team from UCC wins 'Irish Times' debate". The Irish Times. 20 February 1998. p. 10.
  15. "Dublin dominates 'Irish Times' debate". The Irish Times. 2 February 1999.
  16. Taney, Paul (26 February 2000). "Kings' Inns, Solicitors of Ireland take honours". The Irish Times.
  17. Donnellan, Eithne (24 February 2001). "SF a long way from coalition – McGuinness". The Irish Times.
  18. Stafford, Janet (26 February 2002). "No debate about class of winners". The Irish Times.
  19. McNally, Frank (22 February 2003). "UCD team win Irish Times debating trophy". The Irish Times.
  20. McGarry, Patsy (2 February 2004). "Hosts Dublin City University win 'Irish Times' debating final". The Irish Times.
  21. McConnell, Daniel (3 March 2005). "King's Inns the victors in 'Irish Times' debate". The Irish Times.
  22. Siggins, Lorna (23 February 2006). "King's Inns team wins 'Irish Times' debate competition". The Irish Times.
  23. "Hist wins Irish Times debate". Trinity College Dublin. 1 February 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2007.
  24. "Trinity students win team award". The Irish Times. 1 March 2008.
  25. Hayes, Kathryn (23 February 2009). "TCD Historical Soc takes team award". The Irish Times.
  26. McCann, Fiona (20 February 2010). "'Irish Times' Debate: Fianna Fáil's role in Ireland under discussion". The Irish Times.
  27. Moriarty, Gerry (23 February 2013). "TCD Bram Stoker Club wins 'Irish Times' Debate in Queen's". The Irish Times.
  28. "Trinity students top at The Irish Times Debate grand final". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  29. "Trinity students crowned team champions of 60th Irish Times Debate". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  30. "Maynooth University and TCD speaker win Irish Times Debate final awards". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  31. "The Irish Times Debate 2022 Final". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  32. "Irish Times Debate final: Blackhall Place students crowned team champions". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  33. "Legal students crowned winners of the Irish Times Debate final". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  34. Keery, Neville (1 December 1997). "The Challenge of Openness as European Union Information goes Electronic". First Monday. 2 (12). Chicago: UIC . Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  35. McTiernan, Anthea (31 January 1992). "Momentous occasion for future president". The Irish Times . p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2009.