Internal Events

Looking back over this year’s events one tends to hear the same names cropping up in everything. However this year’s Lit ‘n’ Deb snared a whole new tribe of young fresh-faced gibs. The unsuspecting hopefuls were first launched on the scene at the annual baptism of fire that is the Gibs’ Symposium. Topics were varied, ranging from women with milk quotas to 101 different uses for a condom. The eventual winner was Lt. Brian Leahy.

The week after we decided to show them all how it was done in a showpiece debate by the old hacks. Jarlath Ryan and Emmet Lynch took the honours in this ‘Observer Mace’ format debate: “that the media is mightier than the sword.”

Halloween night proved to be a voyage into the unknown for Lit ‘n’ Deb. As we sat in the auditorium and waited with bated breath for the clairvoyant to arrive, expectations were high. Could this be the new Uri Geller who would bend all the cutlery in the canteen thus leaving Campbell’s Catering in a state of chaos? Then, clad in black, he strode through the door. Apart from moving a member of the audience by bio-energy and getting us to wave our hands in the air not much else happened. Unfortunately the spirits were working overtime that night and couldn’t spare time to call into the Kirwan.

The Maiden Speakers Final was an entertaining night. The motion “that this House supports the Catholic Church” brought forth the usual stream of altar boy innuendo and the priest with the blackthorn stick scenarios. Eimear Ryan was the winner here, not before she went bankrupt for the fines that she had to pay for the use of rather choice language.

The Inter-Fac took on a new image this year. Most of the first rounds took place in small rooms on a Tuesday night. This proved effective for making a debating debut without mortifying yourself in the Kirwan on a Thursday night. At the time of going to print we were preparing for the big final.

Speaker of the Year was one of the most entertaining nights. Twelve of the best literally thrashed out the motion “that lust is better than love.” Abuse was hurled from both sides but Clodagh Beresford took the honours in the dagger throwing competition. After much deliberation the adjudicators awarded ‘speaker of the year’ to Coilín Parsons.

This year at the Lit ‘n’ Deb we witnessed the final speeches of some of the finest speakers in the college but always welcomed newcomers to take their place. May the tradition ever live on in the style of the Latin inscription on the noticeboard: “Nunc, nunc, qui timet eloqui” (Now, now, who fears to speak?).

Ciara Ní Mhochóir

Internal Convenor