Get your school involved

Although registration for the Concern Debates has come to an end for the 2019-2020 league phase, there is never a bad time to show your interest.

Get in touch with our team at [email protected] to register your interest for next year.

What's involved

The Concern Debates competition is open to senior cycle students and runs from October with the final taking place in May.

Schools who take part will get to debate motions regarding development issues and the work of Concern.

All schools will get to take part in four unique debates which are marked by volunteer adjudicators.

If you like what you’ve heard so far, please sign up below and a Concern member of staff at [email protected] will be in touch with further information.

Adjudicators at the 2018 Concern Debates Final. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.

Concern Debates 2017-2018 Semi Final Adjudicators (L-R Emmanuel George, Sandra Marie Donohoe, Marie Griffin. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.

Concern Debates 2017-2018 Semi Final Adjudicators. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.

Concern Debate finalists 2019. Photo: Concern Worldwide.

St. Kilian's German School at the Concern Debate Finals 2018. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.

Stages explained

Here are the several stages of the Concern Debates.

Registration

Registration for the Concern Debates usually begins around the summer holidays. By registering, you are not guaranteed a place. A Concern Debates staff member will be in touch to let you know if your application is successful. At the start of every debate phase, the dates and venues for the coming year are announced once teams have registered.

League phase

Playoff round

Knockout round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

National final

Our debaters have their say

Some of our past debaters talk us through how the Concern Debates gave them valuable life skills, while also offering words of wisdom to current debaters.

Video training

New to Debating? Not sure how to structure your speech and gain top marks? Check out the students from Portmarnock Community School below. The full training series can be followed on YouTube or our materials page.

Each video highlights where the students are getting marked and are a good introduction to get acquainted with the marking sheet.

Debate resources

Adjudicators Handbook |PDF(2 MB)

Debates Timekeeper Sheet|PDF(3 MB)

Debates Marking Sheet.pdf|PDF(3 MB)

Chief Adjudicator Results Form|PDF(75 KB)

Debates Handbook |PDF(4 MB)

Debates Chairperson's Speech|PDF(2 MB)

I’ve learned a lot of new skills. Last year, I was stuttering over myself while making an English presentation. Now I can go into a room and speak in front of 100 people and not be nervous at all.

2017 debate participant