Concern Worldwide are an international humanitarian organisation that strives for a world free from poverty, fear, and oppression. They deliver lifesaving and life-changing interventions to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. From rapid emergency response to innovative development programming, they go to the hardest to reach places to make sure that no-one is left behind. Concern Worldwide have run the Concern Debates with secondary schools across Ireland and Northern Ireland for more than thirty years as a means of getting young people involved in global issues, spread awareness, and promote strong research and public speaking skills.  

Due to the incredible success of this year's Transition Year Concern Debates team, they have progress into the Knockout Round of the Concern Debates, which began with the team proposing the motion: ‘The SDGs are a waste of time.’ The team debated against the very strong team from St Andrew’s College, Booterstown, Co. Dublin. This debate took place online on Wednesday, 18th January 2023. Saoirse Hayes did an excellent job of captaining and leading the team in this debate and she was ably assisted by her teammates: Kiely Lehane, Rebecca Beecher and Aengus Price. Siofra Skinner was our chairperson for this debate with Sophie Hurley acting as our timekeeper. Both teams argued incredible points, and we can only imagine how difficult it was to adjudicate this debate. Our team won this debate, with the adjudicator stating that the team had a wide variety of sources and noted that a lot of research went into their speeches. The adjudicator really liked how the team drew on the difference between ‘a waste of time’ and ‘a total waste of time’. The use of anecdotes in their speeches was well commended and their refutations were excellent. All speakers were congratulated for their speech skills and teamwork. The team should be incredibly proud of their achievements. 

Their second debate in the Knockout Round had the team opposing the motion: ‘Groups like Just Stop Oil should follow Extinction Rebellion’s lead and give up on disruptive action.’ This debate was against an extraordinarily strong team from CBS Kilkenny, and the result could have gone either way. This debate took place online on Tuesday, 7th February 2023 and Aengus Price did an excellent job of captaining and leading the team in this debate, and he was ably assisted by his teammates: Kiely Lehane, Roise O’Donovan and Saoirse Hayes. Sophie Hurley acted as our timekeeper. The adjudicator commented on how both teams were super strong debaters but our debating team from KCS came away with the win in this debate. The adjudicator acknowledged that the students had a great understanding of the motion, the students had strong facts and sources mentioned and the team referred to each other's speeches to link them up. They delivered their speeches with determination and passion and all arguments provided had sources to back them up. They noted that our captain, Aengus Price, delivered an excellent introduction to the team’s arguments and delivered his arguments very powerfully.  

This win advanced the team to the third and final debate in the Knockout Round, where the team opposed the motion: ‘Nuclear power is essential for a clean energy future’. The team went up against an incredibly formidable team from Friends’ School, Lisburn, Northern Ireland. This debate took place online on Wednesday, 1st March 2023 with Aengus Price as our captain, ably assisted by his teammates: Roise O’Donovan, Rebecca Beecher and Saoirse Hayes. Siofra Skinner was our timekeeper for this debate. The adjudicator for this debate observed how close this debate was that it came down to the fine margins. Both teams argued their sides strongly and used reliable sources and statistics, but unfortunately this was not a success for the Kinsale team. The adjudicator mentioned that the KCS team had good information relevant to the motion with lots of good facts and statistics in each speech. From Aengus’ opening speech the team was refuting and rebutting the proposing arguments and the team had excellent communication overall. The outlining of their arguments was good, and teamwork was obvious in the background.  

Everyone here at KCS congratulates the TY Concern Debates team on their hard work and dedication that they have put into this competition since September. They have grown their skills as researchers, debaters, and public speakers. The skills that they have obtained will carry the team through into the leaving cert and it is an incredible achievement to have made it to the top sixteen schools in the Island of Ireland.  

Well done to all students involved in the process; 

• Aengus Price 

• Rebecca Beecher 

• Saoirse Hayes 

• Kiely Lehane 

• Roise O’Donovan 

• Grace McCarthy 

• Sophie Hurley 

• Oonagh McCarthy  

• Siofra Skinner 

A massive thank you to Mr Shane Hartnett and Ms Janet Forrest for all the work that they have done coaching the team and organising the debates over the course of the year.