Congratulations to our Concern debating team, Leah Fellenz (captain), Oscar Toomey, Aisling Burns and Isabel Van Der Voort who won their semi-final on 19th April by proposing that “Sanctions are an effective foreign policy tool”. To a packed house in the Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan, they delivered a first-class performance and impressed all with their polished delivery, well thought out arguments and hard-hitting rebuttal. They are wonderful ambassadors for St. Kilian’s.
The standard of debating was high and the atmosphere throughout tense and dramatic, as one speaker after another delivered a speech that effectively countered the arguments of the opposing team. We offer commiserations to the opposition, Tallaght Community School and thank them for a fine and close debate.
Thanks also goes to the team’s loyal supporter and substitute, Siddarth, who timed the debate for the opposing team. A special thank you to team’s parents and siblings, supporters from 11th class and last year’s team, Sophie, Meadhbh, Lia and Ciara (now 12th class) who have all travelled with them throughout the competition.
The final will take place in The Helix on May 3rd when Leah, Oscar, Aisling and Isabel will need support throughout the school to fill this grand theatre. The motion will be: “To achieve the SDGs we must rekindle the spirit of 1968” and the prize for the All-Ireland National Champions is a visit to Concern Worldwide’s overseas programme in Kenya in July.
