Conor O’Sullivan and Harry Redfern to represent Ireland in the International Competition for Young Debaters 2016
Once again, Coláiste Iognáid demonstrates the ability to compete on the international stage. Junior debaters Conor O’Sullivan and Harry Redfern beat schools from around Ireland to ‘top the tab’ at the Irish qualifiers for the International Competition for Young Debaters 2016. Over the last few months, over 2000 pupils from hundreds of schools world-wide have been eliminated to leave 100 of the best junior speakers in the world to compete at the Grand Finals day in Oxford. The ‘Jes’ pupils travel with three other Irish teams to Oxford to compete against speakers from Canada, USA, Greece, Italy, Germany and, of course, the UK. The day-long debate, in the world famous Oxford Union means that O’Sullivan and Redfern join the elevated ranks of debating Alumni that include Nelson Mandela, Sep Blatter, Boris Johnson, Herbert Asquith, Jeremy Clarkson, Winston Churchill and even Albert Einstein! Competing over the May Bank Holiday, the two debaters mean to keep Coláiste Iognáid on the map!