Students to debate world peace in all-island Concern Debates final

Students from Ursuline Secondary School in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and Hazelwood College in Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick, are the last remaining out of 177 school teams who participated this year in the debating competition, which is the largest of its kind in Ireland. 

They will be debating the motion, “achieving world peace is the defining task of the 21st century,” which is expected to bring up many of the world’s current conflicts. 

The final is being held this Thursday, May 2, at the Helix theatre at DCU in Glasnevin, Dublin 9. It will be broadcast live from 7pm on the You Tube channel of the humanitarian organisation Concern Worldwide, which organises the contest as part of its Global Citizenship Education programme. 

Concern Debates was created in 1984 to encourage further debating about global issues among young people. 

Well-known past participants of the competition include Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe and television broadcasters Claire Byrne and Karen Koster.

Concern’s Head of Global Citizenship, Lauren Wright, praised the hundreds of students who took part in what is the 40th year of the competition. 

“Debating gives young people a chance to develop critical thinking, research and communication skills, all of which are vital for becoming active citizens both locally and globally,” said Ms Wright. 

"Learning how to debate can help people to learn about one another's perspectives and give them the skills to have healthy discussions about important social issues, which is so important in the world we live in today.

“We are very proud of all the Concern Debates participants. It is our hope that they become lifelong advocates for creating a better world for everyone.

“We are also very grateful to the volunteers who help us adjudicate each debate and would ask anyone with an interest in judging debates in their communities to get in touch with us.”

The debating team from Ursuline Secondary School are: Jane Collins; Fiona Maher; Kate Fitzgerald; and Nora Kilrane. Their opponents from Hazelwood College are: Aisling O'Connor; Amy O'Gorman; Regina Burke; and Lucy O'Gorman.

The winners of Concern Debates will travel to Brussels and The Hague to visit the European Parliament and The International Criminal Court while the runners-up will travel to Berlin to visit Concern partner organisations.

Anyone interested in attending the final or who would like to volunteer as an adjudicator or would like their school to take part in next year’s competition is asked to ring 01 417 7733 or email debates@concern.net.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Kevin Jenkinson by email: kevin.jenkinson@concern.net.