St Paul’s Debating Society held its first internal competition of the academic year this week, showcasing the incredible talent and critical thinking skills of our pupils. Four teams went head-to-head in a series of lively debates, tackling some of the most challenging and thought-provoking issues of our time.

In the first semi-final, pupils debated the controversial motion, “Should Ireland reintroduce the death penalty?”. The second semi-final addressed the pressing question, “Has social media become a danger to society?”. The grand final brought an equally compelling discussion on “Should Ireland become part of NATO?”.

Congratulations to Niall O’Hagan, who emerged as the overall winner. Niall not only secured the judges’ vote—comprised of Principal Mr Dáithí Murray and special guest Mr Dáire Hughes, Member of Parliament for Newry and Armagh—but also captured the audience vote.

This debut competition highlighted the power of debate to ignite curiosity, sharpen communication skills, and inspire future leaders. We look forward to seeing the Debating Society continue to grow and flourish.