There was success for Ramsgrange Community School in the final of the St. Louis Schools’ Debating League which was held last month. The young Ramsgrange team, consisting of four students; Holly Cassidy (2nd Year (Captain)), Grace French (1st Year), Gemma Carroll Nugent (1st Year) and Aidan Kind (2nd Year) defeated their opponents, St. Louis Carrickmacross in what the adjudicators described as an extremely close final.
Prior to reaching the final, which was hosted by Blakestown Community School, the team debated a variety of relevant motions to today’s world against teams from St. Louis Dundalk and also St. Louis Monaghan overcoming each of their opponents to earn a well-deserved place in the final.
The motion to be debated on the day was “There is fair access to education in Ireland” and the Ramsgrange team were in opposition of the motion in question. Preparation for the final began three weeks prior when the motion was released. The team then got busy brainstorming relevant points with the help of other members of the school’s debating team and under the guidance of their two teachers, Ms. Niamh Cantwell and Ms. Sarah Gilchrist. Once the points were decided, each debating team member was assigned a point and they then individually developed their speeches. The group met bi-weekly in the run up to the final where they practiced their arguments and potential rebuttals.
The win tops off a very successful year for debating in Ramsgrange Community School which as an extracurricular club is growing from strength to strength with every passing year. The team’s members, who are still only very young, will certainly improve further as they navigate through their time in school as well as inspiring those who follow.
