13 March 2008
A debating challenge was held in the Council Chambers of University College Cork on Tuesday evening the 11th of March at 07:30 pm. Four Debaters from the University of Missouri stopped over in UCC for a debate on tourism on their way back from the U.K. on the last leg of their European tour. It was the first time that a debating team from the University of Missouri visited Cork. They choose UCC as it is considered to have one of the premier Debating Societies in Europe and it is soon to be host to the World Debating Championship, which takes place at the end of this year, the first time this prestigious event will be held in Ireland.
The motion was one which is quite topical at the moment "That this house would not use alcohol to attract tourists to Ireland". The arguments were strong both from the proposition and opposition with the examination of Ireland's culture and heritage and where alcohol fitted into the perception people had of Ireland.
Lisa Leahy the Marketing Director of Hayfield Manor, an expert in the tourism Industry and representative of the family owned Hayfield Manor chaired the meeting. She was joined by two judges from the Irish student body and two students from the American Student body.
Following the debate the students travelled the short distance up the tree lined avenue of Hayfield Manor and enjoyed a drinks reception in the five star hotel. There the winner was announced with Conor O' Brien and Ross Frenett of UCC who were arguing for the proposition named winners. This was the final activity for the Philosophical society for this year and students were delighted to be finishing the year in such elegant surroundings as they dined on canapés and relaxed after all their hard work.
I’m not sure who the first person was to coin that phrase about Simon Harris our new Taoiseach but it certainly is “stuck” onto him now. When the phrase is used do you think it is me...