Debating and Public Speaking
St. Kilian’s has a very active debating society. Students meet at lunchtime in the library or stay after school to discuss and debate topical issues. Our debaters enter many high-profile competitions such as those organised by the Literary and Historical Society of UCD and The History Society of Trinity College and there have been many successes throughout the years both at an individual and team level. This type of structured debate is an entertaining and effective way of developing confidence and communication skills.
The national competition organised by Concern is very popular with senior students and it provides a wonderful forum for discussion, for learning how to make a case on contemporary global issues and in practising the art of persuasion. It also gives students the opportunity to develop an awareness of the world around them and to apply their knowledge in a format useful for Leaving Certificate English composition.
St. Kilian’s students also participate annually, and again with great success, in the European Youth Parliament and the Model European Council Debate organised by the European Commission. Both provide a more formal setting in which to learn about committee work and gain an insight into many government institutions.
Public Speaking also features in our students’ lives. Our teams have been successful in the Leinster region of The Business and Professional Women’s competition and the UCD Women’s public speaking competition on a number of occasions. Both provide an opportunity for students to develop articulacy and confidence when addressing an audience.