The Irish National Law Debates

February 7^th and 8^th 2003

Hosted by the Literary and Debating Society and the Law Society,

in association with Arthur Cox Solicitors

 

The perfect date, months of organisation, thousands of euros, two political party leaders and an army barracks were what went into this year’s Irish National Law Debates. In fact, everything was going splendidly, until the two National Conveners of the Irish Mace and Times competitions, Messrs McElroy and Lyons, decided to scupper our plans by holding semi-finals on the same day as our glorious intervarsity (not to mention their own). Still, we bravely soldiered on, despite seeing more teams drop out than the Special Olympics. We responded by the traditional Galwegian method of putting on a brave face, hitting the Guinness and cursing the capital city to kingdom come.

 

And lo, the day of the event arrived: the catering was readied, the bar stocked and everything hanging in the balance. Then the teams arrived: Southampton, UCD, UCC and…er…Boston? The parodied Power-Point presentation proposed the points to be pondered and the debates began!

 

Following the initial two rounds we hit the bar. After saying “ow!” and picking ourselves up, we ordered drinks. Then a few more drinks. Then some food. Then a Playstation tournament. And finally some more drinks in the hygienic surroundings of the Church Lane night club, where there was much merriment, silliness and rump rubbing, all with photographic evidence.

 

Saturday unveiled some very sore heads (and rumps!?). Some were sorer than others and I was concerned for their welfare. So much so that the Cork team struck me as drunks, in that they said they were drunk and hit me. But there was no time for idle gossip - we had a competition to run. Another few rounds of debating with gleefully accepted ‘open’ motions and it was becoming clear who was winning and who was not. Yep, Sunderland were indeed losing, again. By the last round we knew who was going to be in the final (the fact that we even had an iota is not to be taken for granted). A complicated computerised tabbing system had carefully been utilised to keep perfect records on who came where. We then added our own petty biases, subtracted 25% of their speaker points to keep their egos in check, and hey presto! The final consisted of Southampton, UCD, UCC and…er…Boston, to debate about God in the European Constitution! Hot Dog, it just doesn’t get better than this folks.

 

But before such an intricate and demanding topic could be considered, A FEAST! Fit for an Ethiopian king. On the upper floor of the Aula Maxima we held the banquet. Three courses of wine and one bottle of chicken casserole later we were all in the mood for some entertainment - but first the debate.

 

And thus the highlight of Pat Rabbitte’s career was born, as he chaired the final of our most esteemed intervarsity. He introduced the teams like a veteran (of which war no one knew). Our glorious sponsors, Arthur Cox Solicitors, sent forth their representative who showered us with silver coins and thanks. I got to say my two cents (which everyone agreed was the shortest speech of the night, being only three words).

 

The debate began with a great God impersonation by Aaron Dubois of Boston University, signalling an impressive cut and thrust discussion. The speeches raged on until Deputy Rabbitte, in his capacity as chair, decided to ad lib the running order and install an intermission half way through the debate. He of course graciously filled this break with his own comedy stylings. Introducing one Emily Gore of the Southampton team, he moved seamlessly on to an amusing anecdote regarding Gore Vidal. And voila! Straight back into the main debate, what a pro! The rest of the debate proceeded without incident (making it a very difficult job for the adjudicators). The irreplaceable judges (irreplaceable, seeing as the debate was over) retired, despite many good years ahead of them, and deliberated over their tough decision.

 

Meanwhile in fear of Pat (we all felt we could now refer to leader of the Labour Party as Pat) everyone broke into packs and hunted in numbers for leftover wine. The decision was reasonably quick and the winning team announced – the UCC team of Michelle McCarthy and Kieran Walsh. The individual winner was Eoghan Casey of UCD.

 

We all retired to the Renmore Barracks for huge festivities and buckets of ginger beer.

 

Peter O’Brien

Convenor of the Irish National Law Debates 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above Left: Pat Rabbitte presents the Best Individual Speaker Trophy to Eoghan Casey of UCD

 

Above Right: Michelle McCarthy and Kieran Walsh of UCC receive the National Law Debates Trophy from Pat Rabbitte