Congratulations to our Second Year students Conall Conroy and John Duggan, who travelled to Oxford University to represent the Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh Debating Society and compete in the International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD).

ICYD (International Competition for Young Debaters) is an annual debating competition in the British Parliamentary Format that was set up to encourage younger students to take up debating and to give them a chance to debate against students of their own age, with motions more suited to them.

This year the competition was hosted by the Oxford Union Society and Conall and John made a fantastic team competing against over 40 other teams from schools in Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, Greece, Kenya and South Korea, as well as several top British schools. 

The boys performed admirably and debated motions about the environment, the implications of the glamorized rise of the ‘Trad Wife’, Holistic V Student Choice Education and the idea of fairness when Team Sports award singular performances. 

After a 12 hour day of briefings, prep time and four rounds of debates, the crown was ultimately won by Knox Grammar School, Australia who the boys faced in the first round. 

This incredible experience, within the grounds of the historic Oxford University, will not be forgotten by the boys and gives much motivation and inspiration to future debaters in Coláiste and Spioraid Naoimh.

Many thanks to their Teachers and the CSN Debating Society for helping the boys to prepare for this very prestigious event.

Well done and congratulations John and Conall from all in CSN!