Reporting by Dhyan Nair
On Thursday, 17th October, a group of us from Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore set off bright and early at 7.30 am for a secondary school's debate competition at the University of Galway. We met at the school while it was still quiet, piling onto the bus with bags, notes, and a mix of excitement and nerves. The competition began at 9:30 a.m. and ran until 4:30 p.m., and by the time we arrived back in Tullamore at around 6:30 p.m , we were all tired but absolutely buzzing after such a full, challenging, and rewarding day.
When we arrived at the university, the energy was amazing. There were schools from different counties, with groups of students filling canteens and corridors, practising their speeches, chatting, and getting ready for the day ahead. It felt slightly intimidating at first, because some of the teams were clearly experienced, but there was also a shared sense of excitement, and we were there to give all we got and do our best. We quickly settled in, met a few other teams and new communications, and got ready for our debates for the day.
Throughout the day, we took part in several rounds, each with a different motion to argue for or against. This meant that every debate brought something new. We had to think quickly, come up with strong points, and deliver them clearly in front of the person who examined the debaters and fellow students. Some of the motions were tricky, but they pushed us to really stretch our critical thinking and teamwork. By the second round, the nerves had faded, and we found ourselves genuinely enjoying the challenge. Between debates, we had time to explore parts of the university, grab food, and talk through our strategies and right down ideas for the upcoming rounds.
One of the best parts of the day was watching other school's debate. It was fascinating to see different styles of argument, delivery, and teamwork. Some teams had clever rebuttal strategies, others used humour, and some were incredibly structured and precise. We learned a lot just by observing. Another highlight was meeting students from other schools. Even though we were competing, there was a friendly atmosphere throughout the day. We exchanged stories about how we’d prepared, wished each other luck before rounds, and laughed about the more unpredictable motions. It made the experience feel like more than just a competition, it felt like a shared event that everyone genuinely enjoyed.
Representing Coláiste Choilm in this big competition, we worked well together. We supported each other between rounds, shared quick bits of feedback after each debate, and encouraged one another whenever nerves started to creep in. Representing Coláiste Choilm at such a big event was a proud moment for all of us. By the end of the day, the bus ride home was quiet but happy. We were tired, of course, but also proud of what we’d achieved. We’d gained so much experience in a single day from improving our public speaking and critical thinking to working better as a team and we can't wait to take our debating skills into future competitions.
Overall, the trip to Galway was both fun and challenging, and it gave us memories we’ll carry with us for a long time. It showed us what debating at a higher level looks like and inspired us to keep improving. We can’t wait for the future competitions to come up for more debating.