Wexford students win national final with their vision of Ireland's future in Europe
A team of County Wexford students are the overall winners of the 2009 Transition Year Public Speaking competition run annually by the National Forum on Europe and Irish MEPs, many of whom attended today’s national final in Dublin Castle (2nd March 2009).
Enniscorthy CBS students Killian Doyle, Diarmuid Neville and Liam O’Tiarnaigh delivered stirring speeches on the theme “E-you: My vision for Ireland’s future in Europe”. Their proud teacher, James McGovern, was in Dublin Castle to witness their achievement.
The Wexford boys will now represent Ireland at “Euroscola”, a special session in the European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg when young people from all over Europe come together to debate topical European issues.
Local MEPs Avril Doyle and Mairead McGuinness were there to hear their young constituents detailing how they believe that Ireland in Europe could achieve the aims of the next generation.“Together we share a vision of Ireland coming out of this recession better prepared economically and ecologically for the years ahead”, said Diarmuid Neville, wrapping up the Wexford presentation. “Our vision of this success is not just confined to the future of Ireland in Europe but to the very future of the EU and Europe itself”.
A record hundred and seventy schools took part in this year’s competition. Today’s final was a contest between the top four of them.
The Enniscorthy team, representing the East Euro constituency, was up against very strong finalists from the other Euro constituencies:
* Meanscoil San Nioclas, An Rinn, Dún Garbháiri, Co. Waterford, representing the South Euro constituency * Scariff Community College, Scariff, Co Clare representing the North West Euro constituency and * AssumptionSecondary School, Walkinstown,Dublin12, representing the Dublin Euro constituencyThe Chairman of the National Forum, Maurice Hayes praised the qualities of excellence and understanding of issues relating to Ireland’s membership of the EU that all four teams brought to the event. “Above all, what heartened me was the basic optimism of the young people here today”, he said. “There was also a realism in what they had to say and they were able to look troubles in the eye. Nevertheless, they had a spring in their step and a lift in their voice.”
The judges were RTE Newscaster, Eileen Dunne, who is President of the Irish section of the Association of European Journalists; Francis Jacobs Head of the European Parliament Office in Dublin and Grace O’Regan, Deputy Director of the National Forum On Europe.
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- Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin 12
- Kim Doran, Alison Kane & Ellen O'Sullivan
- Meanscoil San Nioclas, An Rinn, Dún Garbháiri, Co. Waterford
- Aine Ní Dhunn, Niamh Ní Bhroin & Cáit Ní Chadhla
- Scariff Community College, Scariff, Co Clare
- Cassie Comerford, Aideen McNamara and Camin Condren
- Enniscorthy CBS, Enniscorthy, Co. Waterford
- Killian Doyle, Liam O’Tiarnaigh & Diarmuid Neville
Clare overcomes tough competition from Monaghan and Donegal
A County Clare school will represent the North West Euro Constituency in the national final of the 2009 Transition Year Public Speaking competition run annually by the National Forum on Europe and Irish MEPs. Students Cassie Comerford, Aideen McNamara and Camin Condren (pictured) of Scariff Community College will be competing in the grand final in Dublin Castle on 2nd March 2009 when the top prize will be a trip for the entire class to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The teachers guiding the Clare team are Olwyn Kelly and Noel Harrington. The Clare students won the North West final in the McWilliam Hotel, Claremorris in County Mayo today (Friday 30th January).
They had to overcome tough competition from Monaghan pupils Gregory McNally, Kevin Hickey and Connall O’Rourke of St.Macartan’s College, Monaghan; and Donegal students Luke Devanney, Killian Dolan and Daire Feighney from Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon. The student teams addressed the very topical theme: “The European Union: my vision for creating jobs and growth in Ireland”. The judges were Mary Killoran, former Communications Officer with the European Parliament Office in Ireland; Aiden Henry of the Connaught Telegraph and Deirdre Kelly of the EU Rural Development division of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
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- St.Macartan’s College, Monaghan
- Gregory McNally, Kevin Hickey and Connall O’Rourke
- Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon
- Luke Devanney, Killian Dolan and Daire Feighney
- Scariff Community College
- Cassie Comerford, Aideen McNamara and Camin Condren
- Seán Ó Neachtain MEP
- Jim Higgins MEP
- Marian Harkin MEP
Waterford overcomes tough competition from Limerick and Cork
A County Waterford school will represent the South Euro Constituency in the national final of the 2009 Transition Year Public Speaking competition run annually by the National Forum on Europe and Irish MEPs. Students Aine Ní Dhuinn, Niamh Ní Bhroin and Cáit Ní Chadhla of Meanscoil San Nioclas, Dungarvan will be competing in the grand final in Dublin Castle on 2nd March 2009 when the top prize will be a trip for the entire class to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The teacher guiding the Waterford students is Anne Higgins. The South final took place in the Clarion Hotel in Cork today (Monday 26th January).
The Waterford team met tough competition from Cork students Sam Ross, Erin Kennedy and Tara Laubach of Maria Immaculata College, Dunmanway; and from Limerick pupils Finton Walsh, Brian Carroll and Darren Maloney of St Clement’s College, South Circular Road, Limerick. The student teams addressed the very topical theme: “The European Union: my vision for creating jobs and growth in Ireland”. The judges were the Deputy Director of the National Forum On Europe, Grace O’Regan; Professor Barry Brunt, University College, Cork; and Niamh Hennessy of the Irish Examiner. This year, a record hundred and seventy schools around the country entered the prestigious annual competition which is being held in each Euro constituency. It is being run in partnership with all the Irish Members of the European Parliament, including South MEPs Brian Crowley, Kathy Sinnott and Colm Burke, each of whom appointed a co-ordinator to organise the local heats. Mr Burke attended the South final and warmly congratulated the students and their teachers for their contributions.
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- Colm Burke MEP
- Opening Address
- St Clement’s College, Limerick
- Finton Walsh, Brian Carroll and Darren Maloney
- Meanscoil San Nioclas, Dungarvan
- Aine Ní Dhuinn, Niamh Ní Bhroin and Cáit Ní Chadhla
- Maria Immaculata College, Dunmanway
- Sam Ross, Erin Kennedy and Tara Laubach
Wexford school East Euro constituency champions
A County Wexford school will represent the East Euro Constituency in the national final of the 2009 Transition Year Public Speaking competition run annually by the National Forum on Europe and Irish MEPs. Enniscorthy CBS students Killian Doyle, Diarmuid Neville and Liam O’Tiarnaigh will be competing in the grand final in Dublin Castle on 2nd March 2009 when the top prize will be a trip for the entire class to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The teacher guiding the Enniscorthy students is James McGovern. The Wexford team saw off tough competition today in the East final from Kildare students Dean McGarr, Robin Brickell and Conor Sweeney of CBS Naas and from Louth pupils Tara Gallagher, Theresa McKenna and Emily Walker of Our Lady’s College, Drogheda. The student teams addressed the very topical theme: “The European Union: my vision for creating jobs and growth in Ireland”.
The judges were the Deputy Director of the National Forum On Europe, Grace O’Regan; Martin Alioth, Ireland correspondent for Swiss, German and Austrian media and Seumas O’Brien of the Irish Farmers’ Association. This year, a record hundred and seventy schools around the country entered the prestigious annual competition which is being held in each Euro constituency in conjunction with all the Irish Members of the European Parliament, including East MEPs Liam Aylward, Avril Doyle and Mairead McGuiness, each of whom appointed a co-ordinator to organise the local heats. Ms McGuinness attended the East final today in the Green Isle Hotel, Newland’s Cross, Dublin and warmly congratulated the students and their teachers for their contributions.
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- CBS Naas
- Dean McGarr, Robin Brickell and Conor Sweeney
- CBS Enniscorthy
- Killian Doyle, Diarmuid Neville and Liam O’Tiarnaigh
- Our Lady’s College, Drogheda
- Tara Gallagher, Theresa McKenna and Emily Walker
- Mairead McGuiness MEP
DUBLIN SCHOOL FIRST THROUGH TO THE TY NATIONAL FINAL
Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown, Dublin, will represent the Dublin Euro Constituency in the national final of the 2009 Transition Year Public Speaking competition run annually by the National Forum on Europe. The Walkinstown students will be competing for the top prize of a trip for the entire class to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Students Ellen O’Sullivan, Alison Kane and Kim Doran saw off tough competition today from fellow Dublin finalists Pobal Scoil Neasáin, Baldoyle, Dublin 13; Templeogue College, Templeville Road, Dublin 6w; and Sandford Park College, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
The student teams addressed the very topical theme: “The European Union: my vision for creating jobs and growth in Ireland”.
File download (MP3 | 77MB | 121:08min)
- Gay Mitchell MEP
- Templeogue College, Templeeogue
- Declan Burke, Michael Ennis and David Keane
- Pobalscoil Neasain, Baldoyle
- Megan McInerney, Glenn Stevenson and Clare MacSharry
- Sandford Park, Ranelagh
- Conor McCormack, Nicolas Nolan and Robert Foley
- Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown
- Kim Doran, Alison Kane and Ellen O'Sullivan
- Mary Lou McDonald MEP
- Proinsias De Rossa MEP