Team 2004 Depart

February 3rd 2004

The Irish Team competing in the World Schools’ Debating Championships is organised every year by the Irish Schools’ Debating Council. The Team has had much success in recent years, reaching the Quarter-Finals in 2003, and winning the World title in 2002. The Team is selected following provincial and national trials held in U.C.C., U.C.G., U.C.D., and T.C.D.

Following a brief change to August for the 2003 event in Peru, the World Schools’ Debating Championships is returning once more to its usual slot in February for 2004. The Team will travel to Stuttgart, Germany for the Championships. This year’s Captain is Josephine Curry, of St. Louis School, Monaghan. She will be joined by Andrea Mulligan (Loreto on the Green, Dublin), Ross Frennett (Christian Brothers’ College, Cork) and Sarah Swaine (Loreto on the Green, Dublin).

The Team have been training hard, and will complete their warm-up this weekend with a final practice debate against members of last year’s team, who are now in University. This year, we are sending two adjudicators to the competition – Ms. Sarah Deeny, of Trinity College Dublin, and Mr Noel McGrath, of University College Dublin. As usual, Mr Dick Wafer, Chair of the Council, will be the Team Coach. They will depart for the ten day event on Wednesday next, February

This year's Team will face stiff opposition in their opening rounds, with debates against nearby Scotland, as well as returning champions Australia. They will also debate against opponents from as faraway places as Peru, Argentina and Bermuda, as well as new E.U. members Slovenia.

The Team is funded both by the Department of Education, and independent sponsorship. They can be contacted through the Council website, at www.irishdebating.com, or via email at schoolsdebating@eircom.net.

ENDS