Concern Debate Finals in the Helix Theatre. Photo: Ruth Medjber / Concern Worldwide.

Get your school involved

Registration for the Concern Debates is now closed. The Concern Debates will now be running a fully online programme next year.

For more information on how to join our mailing list, please contact debates@concern.net

What's involved

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

The programme will be run online from October 2020. Participating teams will record videos of their speeches to be marked online by our volunteer adjudicators.

All schools will get the chance to take part in four unique debates and learn about development issues and the work of Concern.

Registration for the Concern Debates programme is now closed. Please contact debates@concern.net for more 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. Registration closes Tuesday, September 8th this year.

League phase

Knockout stage

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.

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