Díospóireacht Ghaeilge i Meánscoil John Scottus

Ar an 5 Samhain 2019, bhí eachtra mhór ar siúl in John Scottus, i dteach Sheanchonach. Don chéad uair i stair na scoile, cuireadh babhta den chomórtas náisiúnta Díospóireachta Gaeilge, Comórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh ar siúl. Bhí dhá fhoireann díospóireachta againn i mbliana, foireann shóisearach agus foireann shinsearach. Sa bhabhta shóisearach, labhair Euan Gallagher-Doyle, Mikey Mallin agus Daisy Tyner ar son an rúin gurb iad laethanta na scoile na laethanta is fearr dár saol. D’éirigh go han-mhaith leo i gcoinne na bhfoirne ó Chlochar Loreto, Deilginis, Coláiste Rosemont agus Coláiste Dominiceanach, an Charraigh Dhubh. Beidh siad sa chéad bhabhta eile den chomórtas.

Sa chomórtas sinsearach, bhí mí-ádh le Saffron Bardin, le Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh agus le Jessica Dingle nár éirigh leo dul tríd go dtí an chéad bhabhta eile den chomórtas. Bhuail siad le dhá fhoireann ó scoileanna Loreta, Bré agus Deilginis a raibh an-taithí acu ag an díospóireacht.  Bhí argóintí sár-mhaithe ag na cailíní i gcoinne an rúin go léirímid meas ar ainmhithe in Éirinn. Is mór an trua nach mbeidh seans eile ag na cailíní seo sa chomórtas.

Ba é an rud ba shuntasaí faoin oíche ar fad ná an méid daltaí a chabhraigh i slí amháin nó i slí eile; idir daoine a chabhraigh leis na hóraidí a scríobh, daoine a chabhraigh le tae agus caife ar an oíche agus lucht féachana, bhí beagnach 25% de dhaltaí na scoile bainteach leis an ócáid. Ní neart go cur le chéile mar a déarfá!

John Scottus Irish Debating team

On the 5th November last, John Scottus Secondary school hosted a first-round qualifier of the national Irish language debating competition here in Old Conna. Comórtas Díospóireachta an Phiarsaigh is well renowned and hosting the first round of the Junior and Senior competition was an honour for the school.  We entered two teams in the competition this year, and it was our Junior team of Euan Gallagher Doyle, Mikey Mallin and Daisy Tyner who progressed to the next stages of the competition. Two teams progress from each round, and our team who argued in favour of the motion that school days are the best days, will see their opponents from Loreto Dalkey again. It was a pleasure to see the debate in full swing in H05, with visitors from Rosemount College and Dominican College Blackrock also present on the night.

Unfortunately for the senior team of Saffron Bardin, Sarah Kelly and Jessica Dingle, trying to progress from a group which contained Loretos Dalkey and Bray, St Gerard’s and ourselves was to prove too much. The girls argued animatedly and with great passion against the motion that we take good care of our animals in Ireland, but it was to be both Loreto schools who progressed.

The most remarkable aspect of the occasion was the volume of students who were some way involved in the organising of the event. From speech writers in years 2 and 5, tea makers in year 4 and audience members from all years, a quarter of the school’s students were involved. What a real show of community!

Best of luck to our junior team in their next round,

Enda Mhic Cionnaith