CBC Students selected to represent Ireland in World Debating Championships

CBC students Donncha Murphy (6th year) and Leon Reilly (5th year) have been selected to represent Ireland at the 2021 World Schools' Debating Championships that will take place next July. They will make up part of the five member Team Ireland which also includes students from  St Aloysius' College Carrigtwohill, Loreto College Beaufort and Terenure College.

Donncha and Leon emerged successfully from the team selection process that finished on Sunday October 19th. To qualify for the team, the boys took part in a series of regional trials and the two day national trials this weekend. More than seventy students from across Ireland took part in the trials and this was whittled down to a final twelve for the national trials, from which the team of five was selected. The trial process involved an assessment of their debating achievements, a general knowledge quiz and a large series of debates on the type of topics that they might face at the Championships. Due to the current covid-19 restrictions, all the debates took place online. 

Of course, both Donncha and Leon have both excelled at debating for CBC over the last few years. Leon is the current Leinster Champion. They are the current National Mace Champions at senior level, was the Leinster Champion and National Runner-up at junior level. Donncha has also finished runner-up in nearly every major Irish schools debating competition. This is Leon's second year on Team Ireland. He was a member of the team last year when Ireland made it all the way to the semi-finals. 

Team Ireland will spend the rest of the year training every weekend to prepare for the World Championships. They will research and prepare a vast array of topics, engage in practice debates against former team members and compete against teams from our nearest neighbours. Team Ireland are generously supported through fund raising and by the Department of Education and Skills.