Congratulations to our Senior Debating team—Durjaya Puligadda, Nathan Weylandt, Amelia Finn, Amy-Anne Newell, Victor Chan and Ronan Lalor—who proudly represented The King’s Hospital School at the UCD Literary & Historical Society Spring Mace competition last Saturday.
The Spring Mace follows the British Parliamentary debating format, with speeches delivered in an abridged five-minute format. The competition brought together 70 students, forming 35 teams from 19 schools, making it a highly competitive and engaging event.
Our team performed admirably, progressing to Round 3 (out of 4) and demonstrating strong critical thinking, teamwork and public speaking skills throughout the day. The motions debated were both challenging and thought-provoking:
- Round 1: This House believes that Ireland should pursue a closer relationship with China as opposed to the United States.
- Round 2: This House prefers that an 18-year-old school graduate pursues a trade skill as opposed to a university degree.
- Round 3: This House supports the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of art.
The competition provided an excellent opportunity for our students to engage with peers from a wide range of schools, exchange ideas, and develop their debating skills in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Well done to all involved for representing The King’s Hospital School with such enthusiasm and dedication. It was a fantastic experience and a valuable opportunity to grow in confidence and skill.
