Concern Primary Debate Information 2022/2023
CONCERN Debates Project Information Evening
List of Schools participating in 2022/2023 Project
Please see the list of schools who are taking part in our 2022/2023 Debates Project. Best of luck to all our schools.
S N Chaomhain Torrchoill -Tara hill |
St Brigid's NS, Carlow |
Barntown NS |
Danescastle NS |
Coolgraney NS |
Wexford Educate Together NS |
Bunscoil Loreto |
Galbally NS |
Scoil Ghormáin Naofa |
Carysford NS - 5th Class |
Carysford NS - 6th Class |
Screen NS |
Glenbrien NS |
Sheilbaggin NS |
Round 1
Motion: School Uniforms are a thing of the past
Proposing | Opposing | Winning School |
Scoil Mhuire, Bartown | Tarahill NS | Scoil Mhuire, Barntown |
Carysfort NS – 5th Class | Glenbrien NS | Glenbrien NS |
Carysfort NS – 6th Class | Shielbaggan NS | Shielbaggan NS |
Danescastle NS | Coolgreaney NS | Danescastle NS |
Wexford Educate Together NS | Bunscoil Loreto | Bunscoil Loreto |
St Brigid's NS, Carlow | Galbally NS | Galbally NS |
Screen NS | Scoil Ghormáin Naofa | Scoil Ghormáin Naofa |
Quarter Final:
Motion: All schools should be Gaelscoileanna
Proposing | Opposing | Winning School |
Bunscoil Loreto | Scoil Mhuire, Barntown | |
Scoil Ghormáin Naofa | Danescastle NS | Danescastle NS |
Glenbrien NS | Shielbaggan NS | |
Galbally NS | BYE | |
Concern Worldwide coordinates the Primary Debates in conjunction with Education Support Centres across Ireland. Debating is a fun, educational way of encouraging your students to engage with current affairs and development topics. Debating teaches students how to think critically and
***************************************************************
Concern Debates Project 2021-2022
National finalists were Ardfield NS in Clonakilty, Cork and St. Francis Xavier NS, Blanchardstown. This year’s debate final was held in Dublin on June 16th.
Victory for Ardfield NS from West Cork
Pupils from Ardfield NS in Clonakilty, Cork claimed victory in the final in front of an audience of 100 people of teachers, pupils and special guest including representatives from Concern Worldwide and Irish Aid.
The event was also streamed live on YouTube.
*******************************************************************************
We are delighted with the sucess of the CONCERN Debates Project this academic year. Congratulations and thank you to all teachers and pupils involved in the project. Your involvment continues to make this project the sucess that it continues to be.
A special word of congratulations to our Regional Finalists this year, Danescastle NS & St. Anne's NS, Rathangan.
Danescastle NS emerged victorious from this final on Monday 28th March. Thank you very much to both schools.
We wish Danescastle every sucess in the upcoming National Finals to be held in the coming weeks.
Our 2 Schools Through to Final 2021-2022
Final to be Completed Between 28th January – 11th March 2021
Motion: Shopping Local Must Become The New Normal
Proposing Opposing
Danescastle NS Vs St. Annes NS, Rathangan
**********************************
List of Schools Through to Semi Final
Semi Final : To be completed between 16th December – 14th January 2022
Motion: We Need To Pay More For Our Clothes To Fight Fast Fashion
Proposing Opposing
Tara Hill NS, Gorey Vs Danescastle NS
St. Annes NS, Rathangan Vs St. Brigid’s NS, Grange
List of Schools Through to Round 2
Motion: Sustainable Cities Should Have Free, Regular Public Transport Available To Everyone
A: Danescastle NS Vs B: Bunscoil Loreto NS
C: Barnstown NS Vs D: Rathangan NS
E: St. Brigid’s NS, Grange Vs F: Scoil Mhuire, Horeswood
G: Gallbally NS Vs H: Tara Hill NSList of Schools participating in 2021/2022 Project
Please see the list of schools who are taking part in our 2021/2022 Debates Project. Best of luck to all our schools.
Scoil Mhuire, Horeswood
Davidstown NS
Bunscoil Loreto
Carysfort NS
St. Mary’s NS
SN Fionntain
Court NS
Galbally NS
St. Brigid’s NS, Grange
Ballythomas NS
Danescastle NS
Carnew NS
Tara Hill NS
Rathangan NS
AN Mhuire, Barntown NS
Glenbrien NS
MOTIONS 2021/2022
- Tik Tok has done more harm than good for young people’s confidence
- Sustainable cities should have free, regular public transport available to everyone
- We need to pay more for our clothes to fight fast fashion
- Shopping local must become the new normal
- Billionaires should not go to space
- Sport’s stars are bad role models for children
Dates of each Round
Round 1 – Monday 4th October 2021 – Friday 5th November 2021
- Tik Tok has done more harm than good for young people’s confidence
Quarter Final – 8th November 2021 – 3rd December 2021
- Sustainable Cities Should Have Free, Regular Public Transport Available To Everyone
Semi Final – 6th December 2021 – 14th January 2022
- We need to pay more for our clothes to fight fast fashion
Final - 17th January 2022 – 11th February 2022
- Shopping local must become the new normal
All debates to be completed by 18th February.
Please see Primary Debates 2021/2022 calendar:
Please see Primary Debates 2021/2022 Handbook
Please see Primary Debates Introductory Video
2020/2021 concern debates
We are delighted to confirm the following schools are taking part in this year's competition 2020/2021 .Our first round of debates begins on the 6th of November with the motion "The Voting age should be lowered to 16 ". Best of luck to all our schools.
- Danecastle NS
- Rathangan NS
- S.N. Mhuire Barntown
- Scoil Mhuire Rosslare
- Murrintown NS
- Castletown NS
Congratulations to all the schools that took part in this year's competition. We wish to thank the teachers, students and adjudicators who had to adapt to the new online format this year, from the tweets we received there were some incredible battles during the competition stages . We congratulate Rathangan NS and S.N. Mhuire Barnstown who have made it to the final . We look forward to the final debate as soon as possible.
2019/2020 Concern Debates
The following schools took part in the 2019/2020 competition
- Barntown NS
- Tara Hill NS
- Danecastle NS
- Murrintown NS
- Rosslare NS
- Scoil Eoin BaistNS,Galbally
- Scoil Ghormain Naofa
- St Josephs NS
- Tombrack NS
- Bunscoil Loreto, Gorey
- Mercy NS Wexford
- Mayglass NS
- Cushinstown NS
- Court NS
- Davidstown NS
They competed against each other on a range of different motions provided by Concern. Congratulations to all the schools who took part, we hope you all enjoyed yourselves and that participating in debates is something you will continue to do in Post-Primary school. Thank you to all the adjudicators,teachers and students for the wonderful work you did in making this such an enjoyable competition for everyone concerned.
This year due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we did not get a chance to have our Primary Concern Debate Final in the Education Centre as planned. The two schools who were due to compete against each other on the following motion 'Young people should be allowed to vote at 16" are Castletown NS and Mercy NS, Wexford.

We recommend schools have a panel of six students at least in case of illness
Only three students may debate three students on the day of the debate
Schools may have subs and have the whole class involved helping to research motions, acting as timekeeper and /or chairperson
Schools must agree the time and date of each debate - subject to staying within the designated deadline.
Practice debate(s) can be organised between schools in October - practice debate topic is “Homework is a waste of time for primary school students”
Concern have resources available to help with preparing for the debates - https://www.concern.net/schools-and-youth/debates/primary-school%26sa%3DD%26ust%3D1569928539808000%26usg%3DAFQjCNGnPGLQ3Twaq2pIc4cakNZR9OPbIA&source=gmail&ust=1570016397334000&usg=AFQjCNG0o39O4I8erZ3N1U33_rYa_WzF7A" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.concern.net/
They also have a new video for adjudicator training located here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%253DsFRr821JcTg%26sa%3DD%26ust%3D1569928539808000%26usg%3DAFQjCNHtGexesM20mh_P_USLNhdxtk8VmA&source=gmail&ust=1570016397334000&usg=AFQjCNGcmYoJdMnjQmTW6oHMnr6-mYuKtA" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Concern have limited spaces for workshops, teachers can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to secure a visit.