The Times they are a changing...
Eamon de Valera, Westlife, Tony Fenton, those comely maidens with their Ford Fiestas and Fiat Micras and Charlie McCreevey (It started with Fianna Fáil, and it ended with Fianna Fáil,). All this, for me, represented the climax, of the last Lit & Deb of the century. (Yes folks, the new one starts in September.)
The journey to Maynooth,
with Mary Frances Beatty, for the first round of the ‘Irish Times’ was an
achievement in itself. This in fact was the first time for me to debate for the
University. We arrived in good time (unlike
the adjudicators) and made our way north across campus to Lecture Hall One
(NU1, Maynooth
being extremely original with naming theatres.)
Once the debate got under way it seemed
like a mere nanosecond had elapsed when I was due to speak but then they called
a toilet break! When all had returned my name was called and the speech that
followed little resembled my notes. Rebuttal and several succinct points later
as well as a quotation from the Merc song and several
animated bursts I was finished and felt that I had done myself proud. It was
not until I found myself identifying with the points that the adjudicator was
making that I even considered that I had a chance. With disbelief etched across
my face I sat stunned as my name was called out for Individual speaker winner
of the evening. Soon calls of congratulations were coming from every angle as I
tried to come to terms with the very pleasant surprise. Celebrating in Supermacs with a coke and an ice-cream with my ‘partner’,
as MFB had declared in the debate (I
found it extremely funny when she referred in her speech to how much we liked
to ride….. a bicycle!,) Then off for the long bus ride home, although I
departed in Uibh Faile
where I enjoyed a few ‘Tullamore Dews’ recounting to
my friends of how I had officially become a master debater. (At least I hope that was what I said!)
That victory, surprising as it may have been, represented much more for me than the golden ticket to Mr Wonka’s Chocolate Factory that was the ‘Irish Times’ Semi-Final. Sure, I’d never ride in his Flying Glass Elevator, but this was far more success than I had ever imagined myself capable of. It represented one of the most memorable moments of my life, the biggest thing I had ever won on merit. And I feel I owe most of this unexpected victory to the new style of Lit & Deb.
Perhaps it just happened, perhaps it was the effect of a young Auditor, and his committee of few names with proceeding initials, or maybe it began long ago in a winter where few noticed, but wherever it began it bloomed in the spring of the 153rd session. Maybe it was the novice committee with an auditor who’s chest wasn’t sprawled with debating medals that removed the intimidation from the Kirwan but whatever it was the cliques were gone and the Lit & Deb became an all-inclusive society. After all, with it being the college’s debating society and every student being a member it was fitting that no longer would the old adage (and ironically enough, the society’s motto) of “Now now, who fears to speak” be applicable in NUI, Galway’s premier debating chamber.
Private Members Time no longer just saw the old faces taking familiar sides in a debate that would have little relevance to student life, but rather enjoyable debate, banter even, with no one afraid to give their two (Euro) cents. It saw, a call from MFB, the aforementioned debating partner, to beatify Peig Sayers; a gombeen Royalist with British sympathies who asked the house to support Glasgow Rangers FC - defeated of course; a wish from the dreamy angelic Aisling Currid for Willie John McBride to sing the Soldiers’ Song; Diane Halley wondering why we should base our time on GMT even if the rest of the world did and an impassioned plea from Keith Maye for women to be put in the backseat - preferably in his Fiat Uno!
Cheers had their “Norm!” and PMT had its “Michael Kelly 3rd Comm”, a phrase that would see more whooping and cheering than a UCG victory in the Sigerson Cup! (Like that‘d ever happen!) This chap believed that there was something bigger than Mary Harney in Dáil Eireann and also called for the independence of Donegal! (This man obviously lived too far north!) A lot of this new enthusiasm has to be merited to the committee, especially the bubbly Diane Halley and Elaine Dobbyn, who actively encouraged people to contribute. No longer did people speak to see would they get a mention in the following week’s minutes, this wasn’t even the case anymore. Aspiring debaters or not, everyone joined in and this, I feel, benefited everyone.
Even the main debate saw debaters and laymen alike on the platform, with not a celebrity in sight. (This was left to the more populist societies!) This saw large numbers sent off to intervarsity debates, many of whom wouldn’t have dreamt of such under previous administrations; I being one of them. This made my victory all the sweeter, as I felt it represented the new era in Lit & Deb.
We are not the Kilkennys and Corks of the debating game. We are perhaps, the Offalys, whose gritty resolve and teamwork wins through with the odd star player, and I believe the realisation that we are no Hist (but we can put it up to them at times) is what has seen a resurgence in the performances of our IV debaters.
My only regret would be no, not making it to the final (I’m no dreamer, I leave that to Westlife!), but rather that I had to leave midstream and miss being part of such an energetic team and a society that has come full circle and back to the people. Finally I would like to thank everyone who made my four months on the Lit & Deb committee so memorable and to hopefully look forward to returning to continue their wonderful work. I also look forward to return to debating for the college and who knows maybe get even further than I did this year (even the Joe Dooleys can win an All Star, its not just the DJ Careys and Brian Whelehans).
Enda Dolan
2nd BSc IT/ 2nd Comm