On 8th May 2014 the 18th German Debating Competition, which the GDI (Society of German Teachers in Ireland) and the Goethe Institute had organised during the school year 2013/2014, ended with a great success for the St. Kilian’s German Debating Team. After having won the the national final, the four team members joyfully received the much sought-after prize at the Goethe Institut. They had prevailed over 37 school teams from all over Ireland.
The German Ambassador Dr. Eckhard Lübkemeier, the Swiss Ambassador Marie-Claude Meylan, Ralf Hospodarsky from the Austrian Embassy and representatives from Siemens, which sponsored the competition were also present at the event.
On Thursday afternoon, the audience and supporters from both sides were full of excitement and eagerly waited for the decision of the jury. Who would find the better, more humorous and more creative arguments and who would refute the arguments of the opposition more convincingly?
The motion was a quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: „The generation under 25 determines the destiny of a people.“ The debate was about the question whether energy, commitment and creativity of younger generation could outweigh experience, knowledge and networking as well as financial resources of the older generation.
St. Kilian’s argued in favour of the influence of the older generation in politics and society – and won the debate!
Congratulations! The team consists of Kate Chambers (Captain), Comhall Fanning, Hugo Warner and William Worrall. The trainer was Ms Maher, supported by our intern Lisa Kiechle.
Gabriele Adelberger
