The first term of the year has been very successful for debating in Loreto on the Green with both senior and junior students taking part in a variety of competitions.

Congratulations to Niamh Ryan and Sarah Duffy who have both qualified for a place on the Irish World Schools Debating Team. This is a huge achievement and we wish the girls all the best competing in Singapore next August.

Well done to all who took part in the Aoife Begley Debating Competition; Julia Purcell, Ruth Harpur, Aishling Kinsella, Ella McLoughlin, Lia Bennett, Amber Jones-Brangan, Katie Havel, Helen Carroll, Hannah Lynch, Niamh Ryan, Kate Conway, Julie O’Brien, Rachel Mullally, Deirbhle Kearney and Sorcha O’Tighnearaigh. Good luck to Katie, Helen, Hannah, Niamh, Kate, Julie, Rachel, Deirbhle and Sorcha, who will all be competing in the semi-finals in the New Year. 

Well done to Sophie Bannon and Caoilainn Carey, Grace Coughlin and Siofra Brady, Deirbhle Fergus and Eva Fullen and Ellen McKimm and Emily Mansfield who have taken part in 3 rounds of the UCD L&H Junior Mace. This was the first time that any of these students had taken part in this competition.  All girls spoke excellently with every team winning at least one round.

A team of Sally Bergin, Aishling Kinsella and Aodhnait O’Brien took part in the prestigious St Columbanus Public Speaking Competition where they were successful in the first round against Our Lady of Mercy Dublin and have now progressed to the Leinster Finals. Good luck to the girls in the next round and thanks to the 5th year volunteers for their help and support with hosting the competition.

Well done to all who took part in the Leinster Senior Debating Competition. All girls argued very well and good luck in round 2 to Ming Flannelly and Deribhile Kearney, Aishling Kinsella and Ella McLoughlin, Niamh Ryan and Sarah Duffy, Sorcha O’Tighearnaigh and Rachel Mullally and Kate Conway.

Congratulations to Grace Given and Sarah Duffy who were semi-finalists and 4th on the tab at the UCD mace, which was their first senior mace. This was a great achievement and both girls spoke excellently.

Well done to all the TYs who have taken part in the Concern Debates over the past 4 months; Grace Given, Elizabeth Bolger, Lucy Alvarez-O’Neill, Helen Russell, Sarah Duffy, Lia Bennett, Amber Jones-Brangan and Kate Conway.

And a big well done to all the students who have taken part in junior maces so far; Ciara Barry, Anna Bourguignon, Alex Byrne, Ellie Deavy, Sophie Bannon, Caoilainn Carey, Amy Collins, Isobel Healy, Sarah Lawlor, Maeve Bruen and Sophie Dolan.

Every Monday we have a Junior Debating meeting where different students from 1st to 3rd year take turns doing debates. This is a great opportunity for new debaters to gain some experience and its great to see the talent and enthusiasm among the junior students.