National Law Debates, 2002

Hosted by the Law Society and Literary and Debating Society

Sponsored by Arthur Cox, Solicitors

22nd - 23rd March

Friday:

This year’s Law debates were co-organised by both the Law Society and the Literary & Debating Society. The money was accounted for, the invitations sent out and the advertising in previous IV's was completed. With that registration took place in the Arts Millennium Building of NUI, Galway (which for the sake of convenience we chose to call UCG) between four to six pm on the Friday evening. By six we had 8 teams registered, 2 from UL, 1 from UCD, 1 from DCU, I from UCC, 1 HLM team and 2 from UCG, who had all escaped to the bar for some light refreshment.

A little later than advertised the assembled masses prepared for the first round which was to be delivered in AM200. The power-point presentation went down well and the first motion announced was "tth would he presumed an organ donor". Fifteen minutes later the teams had separated into their rooms with Chief Adjudicators Colm Flynn and Mark Dowling. Four teams to a room, with five minute speeches delivered in Mace style debating, meant that the round was over in forty-five minutes.

Once the adjudication was in, the tab updated and the power-point completed, the next round was announced with the motion "tth believes violence is necessary". Again teams got fifteen minutes to prepare and the round began, this time with teams positions decided by virtue of how well they had done and where they had spoken in the previous round. By ten pm the round had finished and the real fun started: the night's entertainments and drinking.

The back of the college bar was the venue and with a generous amount of free drink as well as plenty of food everyone was in a good mood for the alternative alternative table quiz. The less said about that the better but some people were happy with the prizes including buckfast, apres match video and giant inflatable hammer.

On then to the nightclub Church Lane, where the Skytop bar awaited. Again free entrance and a sizable drinks tab meant that everyone had their fair share of fun not to mention debauchery. Strong connections were made between UCG and UCC of which we have photographs to remind us. God knows everything that happened to night but suffice it to say that everyone survived.

Saturday:

Everyone was due to assemble at l0am in the Arts Millennium building. However few were there at that time. In fact even by I11am we were still down one team (who were the people staying nearest college). But we were underway again by 11:30am. The first motion was decided upon as a fun easy one to wash away any tiredness and possible handovers. "tth believes virginity is over-rated" was received well and the first proposition teams scurried away to see which way they would twist this one. One room decided that mandatory voting was the way to go while the other debated the morning-after pill. So much for a light debate before lunch.

After this it was time for complimentary soup and sandwiches in the River Inn. Much merriment was made of this especially as the Ireland match was on. But sensing danger I had to clear everyone out before the 2pm kick off or we would never have gotten on to the 4th round. The final motion for the rounds was "tth would stand Sharon beside Milosevic ". A gasp of horror echoed around the theatre at this tough motion, After this round we broke until 6:15pm where we'd meet up in the Aula Maxima for the grand final.

By 7pm all but two adjudicators were present and all the complimentary wine was finished (for now). All the same we decided to announce who had broke into the final. In speaking order: UL A, UCD, UCC, DCU. And the motion "That his house believes ancestry, not geography, determines Irish citizenship". An informative and energetic debate followed. But after all was said and done and the adjudicators decision reached, the team winners were UCC with the Individual winner for coming top of the tab was Derek Lande of UCC also.

But there was little time to stand around and celebrate as we had a bus waiting to take us to the Army Barracks in Renmore for the meal. We arrived into the Officers bar where pints were €2 and spirits €1.80. To supplement this we had forty bottles of wine and it was looking more like the hold of the Irish Rover than a party. But the meal proceeded in fine style and a after a few more ridiculously priced drinks the DJ started and the night really took hold. With music and drink until 3am and no limit on 'drinking up' time, it was a wonder that anyone made it to the house party that followed. Again free beer was organised and more crazy antics ensued.

This was by no means the end of the night, despite the fact that it was actually day, but those that made it to Padraics' and the Kings Head can recount you of the happenings there. As for me, 3 hours sleep in 3 days took its toll and 8:30am Sunday morning was as good as I could go. What a fantastic weekend.

Peter O’Brien

Convenor