A group of secondary school students from Laois beat off fierce competition from a number of private schools to be crowned All-Ireland French debating champions last week.
Heywood Community school won the All Ireland Joutes Oratoires French debating competition on Friday.
The debate took place in the Alliance Française, Kildare street and the opposition were St Michaels College from Ailesbury Road in Dublin.
The competition began with 28 schools competing and Heywood came out on top, after debating five times throughout the year.
Each debate surrounded a certain subject that the team had to successfully come up with an argument for or against – and they were certainly wide ranging.
In the quarter final, the subject was ‘The right to vote should be given at the age of 16’.
While in the semi final, the team had to consider if ‘conserving our heritage is a luxury’.
In the final, the Heywood team had to argue that ‘celebrity has become the obsession of our era’ – and they were very successful.
Following their victiry, team captain Joe Phelan, Durrow, Conor McGavin, Timahoe, Ava Lalor, Abbeyleix, and David Vesey, Abbeyleix, were delighted to accept the cup from a representative of the French Embassy on the night.
Speaking afterwards, teacher Ms Olive Guest, who mentored the students throughout the competition, said it was an honour for the school to win.
She said: “It’s a great achievement for a school outside of the capital to take this accolade, well done to all.”
