Nearly 30 years old, the Concern Debates are Ireland’s longest running Secondary School debates competition. Since their inception in 1984 over 15,000 students, in over 250 secondary schools, from all parts of the country, have taken part.

Over 120 schools and 480 students have gone toe-to-toe, arguing their way through 16 gruelling rounds of motions and emotions in oratory combat.

The future of global development and human rights has never been more contested.

The schools involved in this year’s final are Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally, Co. Limerick, and Newbridge College, Co. Kildare and will take place in the City North Hotel in Meath (15 mins from Dublin airport) on Thursday May 16 beginning at 7pm sharp.

This year’s motion for the final is:

We’ll be reporting on finals in the weeks ahead, but in the meantime here’s a snippet of the finalists and what to look forward to.

RSVP for tickets to debates@concern.net or call 01 417 7733.

Website | https://www.concern.net/get-involved/schools/debates

Twitter | https://twitter.com/concerndebates

Directions | The hotel is located just across the Co. Meath border, approximately 15 minutes past Dublin Airport on the M1 (exit 7). There is plenty of free parking at the hotel. Matthews Coach Hire run an hourly bus to Laytown and Bettystown from Dublin City Centre which serves the hotel – see www.matthews.ie for details.