Stand-up row gets underway in local hostelries

The people of Trim are bracing themselves for another series of stand-up rows in local pubs in the lead-up to the national Trim Swift Festival. However, gardai and the army will not be required, according to Paddy Smith, who devised this unique event. Teams of three people from the local pubs compete in a home-and-away league where they are judged on their natural skill as amusing talkers and on their ability to argue both sides of a case. Each team member selects a subject from a hat and speaks on the motion for one minute. There is a twist because he or she has then to change sides in this 'debate' and speak against the motion for a further minute. This is all done after just two minutes' preparation in consultation with team-mates. "The contestant is judged by a panel of two judges from outside Trim," said Paddy Smith. "This judgement is robust but it's all in the spirit of fun and entertainment." The competition is organised by the Trim Swift Festival, which takes place from Thursday 30th June to Sunday 3rd July. A prize fund of €600 will be divided among the winning team members (€200 each). The runners-up will divide €150 (€50 each). Rodney Leonard of Trim's Malt House, who is a member of the festival committee, said interest in the competition was very keen after last year's very successful event. "It revealed some really talented people last year," he said, "from the most unexpected quarters. It was simple entertainment that brought delightful surprises and real belly-laughs every night. "Every pub has its talkers who have an opinion on everything," he added. "This is a golden opportunity for them to shoot their mouths off. It really puts it up to them - put up or shut up." Last year's inaugural event was won by The Steps, Emmet Street, who defeated Lenihans, High Street, in a keenly contested final. This year's first-round draw was made last week. It pits Kiely's against The Steps, the Judge & Jury against Lenihan's, today (Wednesday 1st June). On Thursday 2nd June, Marcie's take on Brogan's, and the Malt House versus the Bounty Bar. Return matches are on Wednesday 8th June and Thursday 9th June. The semi-final matches will take place over the following two weeks, with the final being held on the opening night of the festival, Thursday 30th June. The gameshow is inspired by the fact that, 300 years ago, Jonathan Swift, the spin doctor of his day in English politics, caused a sensation by changing sides from the Whigs to the Tories - the modern equivalent of switching allegiance from the Labour Party to the Conservatives, or from Fine Gael to Sinn Fein. "If this turncoat action is something to be celebrated," said Paddy Smith, "then we will definitely mark it well with our 'changing sides' twist to debating in the Stand-up Row!"