Irish Times Debate

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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 PhilDeclan 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 Foley Gavin Titley UCC 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 Mark Thuillier
2012 RCSI Eoin KelleherElizabeth Ahern-Flynn UCD Med Soc Michael Conroy
2013 [27] Bram Stoker Club Liam BrophyJohn Engle Hist Kate Brady
2014SADSIDearbhla O'GormanKieran O'Sullivan UCD Med Soc William Courtney
2015 TCD Phil Rónán O'ConnorHugh GuideraUCD L&HEoin MacLachlan
2016SADSIRoss O'MahonyAaron Vickery UCD L&H Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair
2017UCD LawAisling TullyDara KeenanSADSILeah Morgan
2018UCD LawCian LeahyAodhán Peelo UCD L&H Amy Crean
2019 [28] TCD HistRonan DalyDaniel Gilligan King's Inns Kevin Roche
2020 [29] TCD PhilEoghan QuinnAislinn Carty UCD L&H Rachael Mullally
2021 [30] MaynoothRí AnumuduChikemka Abuchi-OgbondaTCD HistGabrielle Fullam
2022 [31] SADSIRoss MerrimanConor WhiteUCD LawBevin Armstrong
2023 [32] SADSIAilbhe NoonanGavin DowdMTU 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.

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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. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/trinity-students-top-at-the-irish-times-debate-grand-final-1.3803369#:~:text=Students%20Daniel%20Gilligan%20and%20Ronan,Kevin%20Roche%20of%20King's%20Inns.
  29. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/trinity-students-crowned-team-champions-of-60th-irish-times-debate-1.4188260#:~:text=The%20Irish%20Times%20Debate%202020,Rachael%20Mullally%20of%20UCD%20Law.&text=Trinity%20College%20Dublin%20students%20Eoghan,grand%20final%20on%20Friday%20night.
  30. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/maynooth-university-and-tcd-speaker-win-irish-times-debate-final-awards-1.4623775
  31. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/the-irish-times-debate-2022-final-1.4825482
  32. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2023/02/17/blackhall-place-students-crowned-team-champions-at-irish-times-debate-final/
  33. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2024/02/23/students-from-kings-inns-and-blackhall-place-crowned-winners-of-the-irish-times-debate-final/
  34. ↑ Keery, Neville (1 December 1997). "The Challenge of Openness as European Union Information goes Electronic". First Monday. Chicago: UIC. 2 (12). Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  35. ↑ McTiernan, Anthea (31 January 1992). "Momentous occasion for future president". The Irish Times . p. 9. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
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