Belvedere Times

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Leinster Junior Debating Competition

Killian Marsh, Debater

The Leinster Junior Debating Competition began in November 2009. There were four teams to begin with: Niall Behan and Barry Maguire, Oisín Galvin and Alex Delamer, Jack Cobain and Robbie Doyle and Killian Marsh and Cian Henry.

By the time February rolled around we were at the semi-final stage of the competition. Jack, Robbie, Niall, Killian and Cian were all still in it.  Killian and Cian were second Opposition. Killian went up to speak first after the first speakers from the other teams. After seeing what the other teams had brought to the debate he went up confidently. Niall was the next member of Belvedere to speak. He spoke as the third individual and spoke well, despite the tougher individual opponents. Cian was the final speaker of the night.  At this stage the Belvedere Team was quietly confident about the result. Cian spoke with his usual eloquence. None of the Belvedere students from this debate were particularly worried about the result, except for Niall who was consistently worried.

They were the first opposition and had very tough teams to face.  It was the more difficult of the two semi-finals.  Nonetheless they both spoke valiantly giving new uses for these overweight children, such as using them to anchor ships.  After a very tough debate they had both done well.

It was announced that three Belvedere students had got to the final, Niall Behan as an individual and Cian and Killian as a team.  It was the first Belvedere team to get to the final since 2006.

Needless to say everyone was quite nervous. The long, drawn-out beginning didn’t help the nerves and nor did the bright RTE camera light shining in their faces, or the Governor of Mountjoy Prison chairing the debate. Cian and Killian had come against every opponent in the debate before and knew what each of them was capable of.  Killian went up more nervously than in the previous debate.  There was a bright spotlight shining in h eyes and a daunting audience facing you, not to mention being able to hear the echoes of your own voice. Niall spoke convincingly and the individuals were very close. Cian again spoke with confidence and was probably the best speaker of the night.

After an incredibly long adjudication and a split decision, Castlenock Community College was announced as the best team with Killian and Cian as the runners-up. Colaiste na hInse won the best individual, with Gonzaga's speaker as the runner-up.

The least amount of time was given to prepare for the final compared to every other debate, just a week. It was that This House Would Reintroduce the Death Penalty and every Belvedere member was speaking in the same order as before.

In the second semi-final the debate was that This House Would Place Morbidly Obese Children Into Care. Robbie and Jack were proposing the motion as a team.

In the first semi-final the debate was that This House Regrets the Rise of Social Networking. Cian Henry and Killian Marsh were opposing the motion as a team, and Niall Behan was proposing it as an individual.