Debating and Public Speaking
Our Lady’s Bower has a rich tradition of promoting debating and public speaking as a lifelong skill. Our students become articulate, confident and dynamic speakers. They also get an opportunity to develop skills in research, critical thinking and foster essential teamwork skills. The platform allows students to express their own beliefs while also having the ability to listen and appreciate other viewpoints.
Preparation has commenced for the 2022-2023 Concern debating Competition under the supervision of Ms. Sheerin as their team mentor. The team are busy preparing their first debate in the league phase of the competition ‘GMOs are necessary in the fight to end world hunger’. Our senior team will propose the motion and face ‘Loreto College, Kilkenny’ in a zoom debate on the 18th of October. The Concern Debating programme tackles controversial global issues around the issues of development and equality. They always prove to be lively and entertaining for participants and spectators alike. We wish our team well.
Furthermore, two Senior cycle girls will represent the school in the local Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition on the 14th of November 2022. The competition encourages girls to develop the skills to speak effectively and articulately with clarity and conviction. We had wonderful success last year and hope to build on it this year. Claire Reidy progressed to the Regional final of the competition and Niamh Jordan won a special award for ‘most humorous speech’ on the night. The girls spoke eloquently on the topic of ‘Friendship and Volunteering’.
