As anyone who has ever taken part in one of the annual argumentative pow-wows, a Concern Debates final isn’t your typical kind of event.
The din of roars, shouts, cheers and supportive howls that follow a quick quip, a gesture or that ever present ‘mike drop’ moment launch an entire room into an emotional duel of wits, spoken word and golden moments around crafting that perfect on-the-spot retort.
This year’s finalists teams heralded from Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, led by captain Laura Walsh, Caoimhe Ni Shuilleabhain, Natasha Sutton and Maebh McCarthy (and coached by Ms Harte with the assistance of Siofra O’Shea) and St Mary’s CBS Carlow, led by captain Colm Heneghan, James Haughton Kellett, Eoin McGloin and Johnny.
Considering the motion of the finals, that The Trump Presidency will be a blessing in disguise for Africa, the stage was well set for an evening of explosive energy, heated exchanges, facts (yes facts STILL matter) and staunch arguments from the competition’s finest debating teams in 2017.
The motion, ultimately, and defiantly, was defeated. The verdict rendered and announced: Sacred Heart, Clonakilty, successful arguing that The Trump presidency will not be a blessing in disguise for Africa.
Launched in 1984, over 50,000 students have been involved in the debates to date.
See the story of the final unfold through the Tweets below, a selection of which is presented following live streams Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter (#Debates2017).
@shssclon “The Trump Presidency will not be a blessing, but a disaster!”#Debates2017#DebateIt!@Concern pic.twitter.com/lpn9uo5U7A
— concernactive (@concernactive) 4 May 2017
Ciara Butler, Sacred Heart Clon says pollution, hunger & sexism are issues facing the world today @ConcernDebates pic.twitter.com/ZfsZZC0Uw0
— Visual Newsdesk (@VisualNewsdesk) May 4, 2017
Today is the day! @shssclon @cbscarlow #MayTheFourthBeWithYou #debateit #debates2017 pic.twitter.com/ygrhXUZixA
— concernactive (@concernactive) May 4, 2017
Bright opening to @ConcernDebates final @cbscarlow v @shssclon @Ubuntu_Network @MU_Education pic.twitter.com/bITfjnd4C0
— Gerry Jeffers (@gerryjeffers10) May 4, 2017
@cbscarlow #Proposition #Debates2017 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/TC0E6qavdW
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) May 4, 2017
@cbscarlow “Mr Trump has little interest in Africa”#Debates2017#DebateIt!@Concern
— concernactive (@concernactive) May 4, 2017
“Although Trump is narcissistic, it is his right entourage we should fear” – @shssclon @Concern #DebateIt!#Debates2017 pic.twitter.com/TS0s2Ni7Sn
— concernactive (@concernactive) 4 May 2017
James @cbscarlow #Debates2017 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/ziwFz3Qwrn
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) May 4, 2017
Our winning captain Laura from @shssclon ???????#Debates2017 #DebateIt!@Concern pic.twitter.com/zJu8RrJeTx
— concernactive (@concernactive) May 4, 2017
America first means Africa last – Captain of the Opposition Laura @shssclon #Debates2017 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/Idbm4hyhis
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) 4 May 2017
@cbscarlow Eoin even quoted Shakespeare #Debates2017 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/dtPXwKaSxa
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) May 4, 2017
This day last week @shssclon became @ConcernDebates All-Ireland Champions? Check out their main arguments below?? #Debates2017 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/pPMEfw4EGR
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) May 11, 2017
The motion was defeated ! #ConcernDebates2017 #Debates17 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/1VQratILo8
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) May 4, 2017
@ConcernDebates All-Ireland Champions 2016-2017 ???? @shssclon and their supporters #Debates2017 #DebateIt pic.twitter.com/3OghgRD2bM
— Concern Debates (@ConcernDebates) 5 May 2017
What an amazing night!Eoin,Johnny,Colm and James @cbscarlow heroes!! Runner-up in All Ireland @ConcernDebates @Concern Well done Clonakilty pic.twitter.com/IE0yjEzoGm
— Joseph Clowry (@JosephClowry) May 4, 2017
- The 33rd all-Ireland Concern debates final took place at The Helix in Dublin City University on May 4th, 2017.
- More info on the Concern Debates initiative and a Concern press release on the event
- A learning resource for debating world development issues: Finding our Voice
- Got a gripe with a policy? Want to debate an issue and looking to weigh up the arguments? Get in touch