Limerick school secures spot in Concern debates final

A LIMERICK school’s debating team has reached the final of the all-island Concern Debates competition, which over 150 schools entered this year.

Students from Laurel Hill Secondary School defeated Tipperary’s Ursuline Secondary School in the semi-final of Ireland’s largest school debating contest.

The Laurel Hill team - Ellie McCaffrey, Zoe Norris-Cable, Aida Hehir and Prisca Afolabi proposed a motion about the effectiveness of the United Nations, for the debate in Dublin on April 3.

They will face Dublin’s Sandford Park School at The Helix venue at DCU in Dublin for the final debate on May 1 where they will debate the motion, ‘The world is more equal now than it was 40 years ago’ to mark 40 years of the Concern Debates.

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Laurel Hill’s team mentor and teacher Alva Cunningham said the school is “incredibly proud” of all team members. “It’s been a pleasure to work with such hard-working and conscientious young women”.

“Concern has provided an invaluable platform for them to tackle complex global issues in a safe space, where they are encouraged to develop their voices,” she stated.

“What super role models they have become for their younger peers. They are a huge credit to our school and their communities”.

Concern praised the hundreds of students who took part in the programme this year. “All the young people who participated this year have learned new skills such as critical thinking, research skills as well as the confidence to articulate information – we are so proud of them all,” said Concern’s Head of Global Citizenship, Lauren Wright.