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Mitchelstown CBS debaters, Fergal O’Baoil, James Meaney, Conor Quane and Fergal Fouhy before their final league debate with Loreto Fermoy in the Concern national debates on Wednesday last. The boys’ unanimous win on the night secured their position in the last 16 in the country and they will now host Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally in the knock-out phase on February 28.

The debating team from Mitchelstown CBS are now through to the final 16 fo the Concern national debating competition, after their fourth successive victory just last week.

Debuty Principal, Mary Hannon told The Avondhu that this is a great achievement for the school and the debating club in its inaugural year, as more than 120 teams from around the country entered into the Concern competition

"This has been a great team effort from the boys, with researchers and speakers working together to produce team arguments and speeches of high quality. The club has been superbly led by their mentor Ms Michelle O’Keeffe, whose ability to bring out the best in the boys’ analytical and intellectual skills has been key to their success," Ms Hannon said.

Their final league debate saw the boys go up against their neighbours in Loreto Fermoy on the motion 'The world is unable to sustain its growing population'.

Speaking about how the debate went, Ms Hannon said that team captain Fergal O’Baoill set out the team’s argument with characteristic clarity, and also challenged the large crowd to change how they view population statistics and analysis.

Second speaker James Meaney was convincing in presenting his argument on food waste and trade. Particular credit must go to James, who stepped in at short notice for Padraig Moynihan and delivered his speech with great conviction and poise.

The confident delivery by third speaker Conor Quane was very impressive, and he presented his argument on the world’s ability to adapt its food production methods and refuted points made by his opponents to great effect.

Fourth speaker Fergal Fuohy was equally impressive in his analysis of the production of energy and identification of ways of producing energy using renewable sources.

An excellent team performance was crowned by a superb final speech by team captain Fergal O’Baoill in which he summarised his team’s argument and was extremely effective in refuting the arguments of the proposition. 

Mitchelstown CBS now join teams from Clonakilty and Charleveille in the last 16, along with teams from Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Kerry and Monaghan. The round of the last 16 will take place between February 25 and March 4.

All eight contests will debate the motion 'It is time to end foreign aid to India'.  As host school, Mitchelstown CBS will propose the motion and will face Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally (Limerick) on Thursday, February 28. Ms Hannon said that this will certainly be a very big challenge for the Mitchelstown boys, but they will leave no stone unturned in their quest to progress.

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