Debating Club
Nowadays the ability to speak in front of an audience is a very important life skill. The aim of Public Speaking/Debating is to help students improve their ability to do this. The art of Public Speaking/Debating is in making an argument, explaining it clearly and concisely to an audience, supporting it with evidence and informing the audience of problems in your opponents' argument. In Loreto College we have a weekly lunchtime debate in which students can practice these skills in front of their classmates. In addition to this we enter teams (at both junior and senior cycle) in various inter-school competitions including the Leinster Schools Debating Championships. Not only does this give students a bigger platform on which to hone their skills but it also allows them the opportunity to meet and make friends with people from many different schools. Public Speaking/Debating also gives students the chance to think about and discuss a wide variety of issues, many of which are directly relevant to their lives. There is no doubt that the ability to analyse a topic and develop a coherent argument about it can be of academic benefit. Mostly, though, it is a fun and pleasurable experience that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy. If you like to argue, you'll love debating.
Debating and Public Speaking Success
Well done to Niamh Murray who recently won the Loreto Senior Public Speaking Competition. Niamh gave a very funny and insightful speech on the topic “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. She is the first students from this school to win this trophy since 1992.
We would also like to congratulate Niamh Ní Leathlobhair and Martha Fitzgerald who won the Aoife Begley Memorial Debating Competition in NUI Maynooth. Over 60 teams participated in this competition, which is organised by the Literary and Debating society in Maynooth. The girls took part in a number of rounds of debating before qualifying for the final. In the final they proposed the motion that “When faced with overwhelming assault, this house would fight to the death”. Both Niamh and Martha argued excellently and are worthy winners. Well done girls.
