Ráth Chairn students win All-Ireland debating competition

A team from Coláiste Pobail Ráth Chairn has been crowned All-Ireland Irish debating champions after winning Comórtas Uí Chadhain, Gael Linn's national debating competition.

The school's strong tradition of Irish-language debating was upheld in Tullamore on Wednesday evening when students from the school took on teams from Galway, Wexford and Dublin in the prestigious competition which caters for schools from Gaeltacht areas and Gaelcholáistí all over the country.

County Meath’s own Gaeltacht area, Ráth Chairn, has proven successful before, winning the all-Ireland final in 2015 and reaching the final on many other occasions.

Cormac Winston (1st Year), Luisne Ní Mhonacháin (3rd Year) and Ana Ní Dhubhda (3rd Year) were crowned all-Ireland champions following their comprehensive discussion of the motion ‘The GAA should pull up its’ socks’.

Coláiste Pobail Ráth Chairn were against this motion, vehemently defending the organisation's efforts to promote all aspects of Gaelic culture. The competence, confidence, language and presence of Coláiste Pobail Ráth Chairn’s students were commended by the judges.

The debate, which was hosted by Páidí Ó Lionáird and adjudicated by five judges, including Áine Ní Ghlinn, poet, and Áine Hensey, RTÉ radio presenter took place in The Tullamore Court Hotel.

Róisín Ní Dhúshláine, principal, who led the students through the competition said she could not be happier or prouder of the school’s students. "Their hard work and effort paid off on the night. They are a credit to themselves, their families, the school and the Ráth Chairn Gaeltacht. Go mba fada bua iad."