Ava Wins All-Ireland National Irish Debating Championship
There was plenty to celebrate at St Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary Town this week when Ava O’Sullivan won the Senior All-Ireland Final of the Gael Linn Irish debating competition Comórtas an Phiarsaigh.
Ava is currently a 5th year student in St. Anne’s and impressed the judges with her speech entitled ‘Ba cheart na cluichí olimpeacha a chur ar ceal i mbliana’, (that the Olympic Games should be postponed this year). Due to Covid restrictions the competition was held online with the Regional Finals and the National Finals live on Facebook. In the All-Ireland Ava competed against speakers from Sandford Park, Ranelagh, Dublin; Blackrock College, Dublin; Wesley College, Ballinteer, Dublin; Mount Anvil Secondary School, Goatstown, Dublin, Loreto Secondary School, Wexford and Laurel Hill, Limerick.
Ava is no stranger to Irish debating. She competed in the All-Ireland Final in 2019 and qualified for the All- Ireland Final in 2020 that was cancelled due to Covid.
“Ava is a past pupil of Gaelscoil Thiobraid Árann and is a natural Irish speaker and an animated and confident debater,” said Irish teacher Ms Niamh Ryan. Fellow Irish Teacher Ms Maria Hayes also complimented Ava on her exceptional abilities in Irish debating. “She is a pleasure to work with and really deserves her All-Ireland title this year.”