Irish Times National Debating Championship
Encyclopedia
The Irish Times National Debating Championship is a debating competition for students in higher education
in Ireland
. It has been run since 1960, sponsored by The Irish Times
. While most participants represent institutions in the Republic of Ireland, institutions in Northern Ireland are also eligible.
approached The Irish Times in 1960 to secure sponsorship for an Irish equivalent of the Observer Mace
, a debating competition started in Britain in 1954. The "Debating Union of Ireland" was formed for a time, but later The Irish Times would appoint a student convenor each year, often a previous year's winner. Until the 1970s, the best teams and individual went on to compete in the final of the Observer Mace. (The Mace no longer has an indiviadual competition.)
In 1979, Gary Holbrook of Metropolitan State College of Denver
was on sabbatical at Trinity College Dublin and was impressed with the debate. In 1980, he persuaded Coors Brewers
to sponsor a debate tour of U.S. colleges for the winning team and individual speakers. The Irish were struck there by the very different approach of American debaters. Holbrook subsequently organised "Friends of the Irish Debate",, sponsored by The Irish Times and Aer Lingus
, to make the tour annual. The tour is now organised by the U.S. National Parliamentary Debate Association
.
In 2010, a special celebration marked the debate's 50th anniversary.
Trophy) and an individual prize (The Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy).
The format of the competition is now unique in third-level debating, combining team and individual roles. The first round consists solely of team entrants, from which both teams and individuals progress, thus creating subsequent rounds featuring both. Individuals may be selected from a team at any stage of the competition, including to win the competition at the final stage. The winning individual cannot be selected from the winning team, though this restriction was not observed in the 1972 competition, where Donal Deeny took both prizes. In that year, the judges nominated Kathleen Boyle to progress to the Observer Mace individual competition.
The only other competition to adopt the same format is the All-Ireland Schools' Debating Competition .
. Former winners in the legal field include Supreme Court judges Adrian Hardiman
and Donal O'Donnell
; Circuit Court
judges Esmond Smyth, Kevin O'Higgins, and Brian Curtin
; Senior Counsel
s Dermot Gleeson
, Aidan Browne, and Gregory Murphy; and professor Conor Gearty
. James Connolly, winner in 1974, was Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland
and recently chair of public inquiries in Dublin.
David O'Sullivan, winner in 1974, became secretary general to the President of the European Commission
. Maeve Collins, winner in 1989, is the Irish Ambassador to Vietnam
. Neville Keery, 1960 winner, was a member of the 12th Seanad
, and later Head of Libraries of the European Commission
.
Other well-known former winners include broadcasters Anthony Clare
, Henry Kelly
, Derek Davis
, Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh, and Marian Finucane
; comedian Dara Ó Briain
; and writers Eamonn McCann
, Gerry Stembridge and Kevin Cahill
.
The losing finalists in 1966 included future President
s Mary Robinson
and Michael D. Higgins
. Future Tánaiste
Mary Harney
and Minister Mary Hanafin
also appeared as finalists.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It has been run since 1960, sponsored by The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. While most participants represent institutions in the Republic of Ireland, institutions in Northern Ireland are also eligible.
History
The Union of Students in IrelandUnion of Students in Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland is the national representative body for third-level students' unions in Ireland. The Union of Students in Ireland is the sole national representative body for students in Ireland but does not represent students from two of the seven Irish Universities, namely...
approached The Irish Times in 1960 to secure sponsorship for an Irish equivalent of the Observer Mace
John Smith Memorial Mace
The John Smith Memorial Mace is an annual debating tournament contested by universities in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
, a debating competition started in Britain in 1954. The "Debating Union of Ireland" was formed for a time, but later The Irish Times would appoint a student convenor each year, often a previous year's winner. Until the 1970s, the best teams and individual went on to compete in the final of the Observer Mace. (The Mace no longer has an indiviadual competition.)
In 1979, Gary Holbrook of Metropolitan State College of Denver
Metropolitan State College of Denver
The Metropolitan State College of Denver is a four-year college and now offers certain Graduate programs located in Denver, Colorado, United States. As of 2009, Metro State had the second-largest enrollment of undergraduates of any college in Colorado...
was on sabbatical at Trinity College Dublin and was impressed with the debate. In 1980, he persuaded Coors Brewers
Coors Brewing Company
The Coors Brewing Company is a regional division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Canadian Molson Coors Brewing Company and is the third-largest brewer in the United States...
to sponsor a debate tour of U.S. colleges for the winning team and individual speakers. The Irish were struck there by the very different approach of American debaters. Holbrook subsequently organised "Friends of the Irish Debate",, sponsored by The Irish Times and Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
, to make the tour annual. The tour is now organised by the U.S. National Parliamentary Debate Association
National Parliamentary Debate Association
The National Parliamentary Debate Association is one of the two national intercollegiate parliamentary debate organizations in the United States. The other is the American Parliamentary Debate Association. The NPDA is a relatively young organization, but it is now the largest college debate...
.
In 2010, a special celebration marked the debate's 50th anniversary.
Format
The competition is generally considered the most prestigious in Ireland, due in part to the additional media attention provided by its sponsor, but also the status of some of the former winners, and the US tour which forms part of the prize. Running between November and February, it operates on a knockout basis, with the initial entrants (usually between 150-170 teams) being whittled down over successive rounds, culminating in a Grand Final with four teams and four individuals competing for team honours (The DemosthenesDemosthenes
Demosthenes was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by...
Trophy) and an individual prize (The Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy).
The format of the competition is now unique in third-level debating, combining team and individual roles. The first round consists solely of team entrants, from which both teams and individuals progress, thus creating subsequent rounds featuring both. Individuals may be selected from a team at any stage of the competition, including to win the competition at the final stage. The winning individual cannot be selected from the winning team, though this restriction was not observed in the 1972 competition, where Donal Deeny took both prizes. In that year, the judges nominated Kathleen Boyle to progress to the Observer Mace individual competition.
The only other competition to adopt the same format is the All-Ireland Schools' Debating Competition .
By society
| Society | University | Team wins | Individual wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Historical Society College Historical Society (Trinity College, Dublin) The College Historical Society is one of two main debating societies at Trinity College, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. It was established within the college in 1770, but traces its origins to the society founded by the philosopher Edmund Burke in Dublin in 1747... (Hist) |
Trinity College, Dublin Trinity College, Dublin Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and... |
14 | 10 |
| Literary and Historical Society (L&H) | University College Dublin University College Dublin University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students... |
11 | 12 |
| Law Students' Debating Society of Ireland | King's Inns King's Inns The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland... |
8 | 9 |
| UCC Philosophical Society UCC Philosophical Society The UCC Philosophical Society, Commonly known as the Philosoph, is the largest debating society at University College Cork, Ireland. The Philosoph was founded in 1850, making it the oldest society at UCC... (Philosoph) |
University College Cork | 6 | 7 |
| – | Queen's University Belfast | 3 | 1 |
| University Philosophical Society University Philosophical Society (Trinity College, Dublin) The University Philosophical Society, commonly known as The Phil, is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. It is one of the two debating societies in the university... (Phil) |
Trinity College, Dublin | 3 | 0 |
| Law Society University College Dublin Law Society The UCD Law Society is one of the largest student societies in Europe. Established in 1911 as 'The Legal and Economic Society', it has over 4100 members drawn from the various faculties of the University. Weekly Tuesday night debates during term are the Society's core activity... |
University College Dublin | 2 | 2 |
| Literary and Debating Society (Lit & Deb) | National University of Ireland, Galway National University of Ireland, Galway The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland... |
1 | 2 |
| – | New University of Ulster University of Ulster at Coleraine The University of Ulster at Coleraine is the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster. It houses the administrative headquarters of the university and is the most traditional in outlook, with a focus on science and the humanities. It was founded in 1968 as the New University of Ulster... |
1 | 1 |
| – | St. Patrick's College, Maynooth | 1 | 1 |
| – | Dublin City University Dublin City University Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland... |
1 | 0 |
| – | University of Limerick University of Limerick The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989... |
1 | 0 |
| Solicitors' Apprentices Debating Society of Ireland | – | 0 | 2 |
| – | Griffith College Dublin Griffith College Dublin Griffith College Dublin is a private third level college in the Republic of Ireland. It is based in and named after the former Griffith Barracks on the South Circular Road in Dublin. It offers courses accredited by a number of institutions and bodies in Ireland and Britain... |
0 | 1 |
| – | Cadet School Curragh Camp The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :... |
0 | 1 |
| – | Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland... |
0 | 1 |
| – | Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , is a Dublin-based medical institution, situated on St. Stephen's Green. The college is one of the five Recognised Colleges of the National University of Ireland... |
0 | 1 |
By year
| Year | Team Society |
Team Speaker 1 |
Team Speaker 2 |
Individual Society |
Individual Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | King's Inns King's Inns The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland... |
Aidan Browne | Charles Lysaght Charles Lysaght Charles Lysaght is an Irish lawyer, author and journalist. He is the foremost writer of obituaries in Ireland.-Legal career:Lysaght was educated at Cambridge University and qualified as a barrister at the King's Inns, Dublin, and then at Lincoln's Inn in London... |
TCD Trinity College, Dublin Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and... Hist |
Neville Keery |
| 1961 | TCD Phil | Hallam Johnston | Jack Daniels | UCD University College Dublin University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students... L&H |
Peter Donnelly |
| 1962 | QUB | John Murtagh | Michael Egan | TCD Hist | Ian Blake |
| 1963 | UCD L&H | Patrick Cosgrave Patrick Cosgrave Patrick John Francis Cosgrave was an Anglophile Irish journalist and writer, and a staunch supporter of the British Conservative Party.-Early life and education:... |
Anthony Clare Anthony Clare Anthony Ward Clare was an Irish psychiatrist well known in the UK and Ireland as a presenter of radio and TV programmes.-Career:... |
RCSI | Desmond King |
| 1964 | UCD L&H | Patrick Cosgrave | Anthony Clare | King's Inns | Terry McMahon |
| 1965 | TCD Hist | David McConnell | Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh | QUB | Eamonn McCann Eamonn McCann Eamonn McCann is an Irish journalist, author and political activist.-Life:McCann was born and has lived most of his life in Derry. He was educated at St. Columb's College in the city. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St... |
| 1966 | TCD Hist | David McConnell | Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh | UCD L&H | Esmond Smyth |
| 1967 | UCC Philosoph UCC Philosophical Society The UCC Philosophical Society, Commonly known as the Philosoph, is the largest debating society at University College Cork, Ireland. The Philosoph was founded in 1850, making it the oldest society at UCC... |
Donnchadh Ó Corráin Donnchadh Ó Corráin Donnchadh Ó Corráin is an Irish historian and Professor Emeritus of Medieval History at University College Cork. He is an early Irish and mediaeval historian and has published on the Viking Wars, Ireland in the pre-Hiberno-Norman period and the origin of Irish language names.-Works:Ó Corráin's... |
Anthony J. Adolph | King's Inns | Kevin O'Higgins |
| 1968 | UCD L&H | Roddy Buckley | Dermot Gleeson Dermot Gleeson Dermot Gleeson is a barrister, former Irish government advisor and businessman born in Cork, Ireland in 1949. He is married with four children and lives in Dublin.... |
UCD L&H | Henry Kelly Henry Kelly Patrick Henry Kelly is an Irish television presenter and radio DJ.Henry Kelly was born in Athlone, Co Westmeath, Ireland. He was educated at Belvedere College SJ, and at University College Dublin where he was Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society... |
| 1969 | QUB | Brendan Keenan | Derek Davis Derek Davis Derek Orlando Davis is an Irish broadcaster. On television, he has co-hosted Live at 3, presented Out of the Blue and won Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Early life:... |
UCC Philosoph | Anthony J. Adolph |
| 1970 | UCD L&H | Neal Clarke | Donal O'Riain | UCD L&H | Adrian Hardiman Adrian Hardiman Adrian Hardiman has been a justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 7 February 2000. He received the rare honour of being appointed directly from the Bar to Ireland's highest court. Many commentators were surprised by his appointment as he was a relatively young man making it likely he would... |
| 1971 | TCD Hist | Donnell Deeny Donnell Deeny Sir Donnell Justin Patrick Deeny, QC, styled as The Hon Mr Justice Deeny is Chancery Judge in the High Court of Northern Ireland.-Background:... |
Gregory Murphy | DIT Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland... Bolton Street |
Marian Finucane Marian Finucane Marian Finucane is an Irish broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has worked with the national broadcaster since in 1976, starting as a continuity announcer. She was the first presenter of Liveline... |
| 1972 | TCD Hist | Donnell Deeny Donnell Deeny Sir Donnell Justin Patrick Deeny, QC, styled as The Hon Mr Justice Deeny is Chancery Judge in the High Court of Northern Ireland.-Background:... |
Frank Bannister | TCD Hist (St Mary's, Belfast St. Mary's University College (Belfast) St Mary's University College was established in 1985, but can directly trace its existence to 1900 and the foundation of St Mary's Training College, which focused mainly on the training of women as teachers... ) |
Donnell Deeny Donnell Deeny Sir Donnell Justin Patrick Deeny, QC, styled as The Hon Mr Justice Deeny is Chancery Judge in the High Court of Northern Ireland.-Background:... (Kathleen Boyle) |
| 1973 | QUB | Billy McRory | Jimmy Hughes | UCD L&H | Adrian Hardiman |
| 1974 | TCD Hist | David O'Sullivan | James Connolly | NUU University of Ulster at Coleraine The University of Ulster at Coleraine is the Coleraine campus of the University of Ulster. It houses the administrative headquarters of the university and is the most traditional in outlook, with a focus on science and the humanities. It was founded in 1968 as the New University of Ulster... |
Alex Lowry |
| 1975 | NUU | Michael Hughes | Kevin Cahill Kevin Cahill (author) Kevin Cahill FRSA is an author and investigative journalist, living in Devon, England... |
King's Inns | Brian Curtin Brian Curtin Brian Curtin is a former barrister and Irish circuit court judge, who was tried for possessing images of child pornography. After the case collapsed, the question of whether Curtin could continue as a judge became the focus of political and legal dispute. An impeachment motion was launched in the... |
| 1976 | UCD L&H | Paul Gill | Gerry Danaher | Maynooth National University of Ireland, Maynooth The National University of Ireland, Maynooth , was founded by the Universities Act, 1997 as a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. It is Ireland's second oldest university, having been formed from St Patrick's College, Maynooth, itself founded in 1795.The university is... |
Deirdre Murphy |
| 1977 | Maynooth | Patrick Hennessy | Gerry Maher | UCD L&H | Patrick Healy |
| 1978 |
UCD Law Soc | Conor Gearty Conor Gearty Conor A. Gearty is the Rausling Professor of Human Rights Law and Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics.-Background:... |
Donal O'Donnell | King's Inns | Turlough O'Donnell |
| 1979 | UCD Law Soc | Conor Gearty | John O'Donnell | UCD L&H | Maurice Biggar |
| 1980 | UCD L&H | Maurice Biggar | Eugene McCague | King's Inns | Brian Havel |
| 1981 | UCD L&H | Charlie Meehan | Gerry Stembridge | TCD Hist | Sean Moran |
| 1982 | TCD Phil | Michael Byrne | Gerry Foley | UCC Philosoph | Liam Plant |
| 1983 | UCG National University of Ireland, Galway The National University of Ireland, Galway is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland... Lit & Deb |
Eoin O'Maoileoin | Damian Crawford | TCD Hist | Bill Maguire |
| 1984 | TCD Hist | Eoin McCullough | Brian Murray | UCD L&H | Pat Whyms |
| 1985 | UCC Philosoph | David Holland | Brian Hassett | TCD Hist | Gideon Taylor |
| 1986 | TCD Phil | Declan McCavana | David Keane | UCG Lit & Deb | Brendan Wilkins |
| 1987 | TCD Hist | Aidan Kane | Paul Gavin | UCG Lit & Deb | Conor Bowman |
| 1988 | UCC Philosoph | Adrian Hunt | Tim Murphy | UCC Philosoph | Robert Plant |
| 1989 | King's Inns | Maeve Collins | Pat Twomey | UCD Law Soc | Julian Clare |
| 1990 | UCC Philosoph | Brendan Lenihan | Don O'Sullivan | Cadet School Curragh Camp The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :... |
Tom Clonan |
| 1991 | King's Inns | Tim O'Leary | Pat Treacy | UCD L&H | Barra Faughnan |
| 1992 | UCD L&H | Johanna Farrelly | Pat O'Keeffe | UCD Law Soc | Cian Ferriter |
| 1993 | TCD Hist | Brendan Foley | Gavin Titley | UCC Philosoph | Kieran Healy Kieran Healy Kieran Healy is an Irish sociologist at Duke University and a regular visitor to the Research School in Social Science at the Australian National University. He earned his PhD in sociology from Princeton University having begun his studies at University College Cork, in Ireland. He is married to... |
| 1994 | UCD L&H | Dara Ó Briain Dara Ó Briain Dara Ó Briain is an Irish stand-up comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting topical panel shows such as The Panel and Mock the Week.... |
Marcus Dowling | King's Inns | Bernard Dunleavy |
| 1995 | UCC Philosoph | Alan Roberts | Diarmuid Conway | UCC Philosoph | Gerry Hyde |
| 1996 | King's Inns | Helen Boyle | Paul McDermott | TCD Hist | Douglas Clarke |
| 1997 | UL University of Limerick The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989... Debating Union |
Seamus Doran | Padraic O'Halloran | SADSI | Matthew McCabe |
| 1998 | UCC Philosoph | Muireann Ní Chinnéide | Elizabeth Barrett | TCD Hist | Paul Gleeson |
| 1999 | UCD L&H | Caoilfhionn Gallagher | Bernadette Quigley | King's Inns | Rossa Fanning |
| 2000 | King's Inns | Michael Deasy | Rónán Mullen Rónán Mullen Rónán Thomas Mullen is an independent Irish Senator and delegate to the Council of Europe. He was elected in the National University of Ireland Seanad constituency in July 2007 and re-elected for a second term in 2011. Mullen is a frequent media commentator on social and political topics... |
SADSI | Louise Rouse |
| 2001 | TCD Hist | Bríd McGrath | Yvonne Campbell | TCD Hist | Aoife Titley |
| 2002 | TCD Hist | Louie Mooney | Brendan Kelly | UCC Philosoph | Conor Buckley |
| 2003 | UCD L&H | Leo Mulrooney | Colm Coyne | TCD Hist | Alison McIntyre |
| 2004 | DCU Dublin City University Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland... |
Ian Kehoe | Michael Moriarty | King's Inns | Paul Brady |
| 2005 | King's Inns | David Whelan | Sam Collins | UCD L&H | Frank Kennedy |
| 2006 | King's Inns | Barry Glynn | Mark Murphy | UCC Philosoph | Diarmuid Early |
| 2007 | TCD Hist | David Boughton | Ciaran Denny | King's Inns | David Quinn |
| 2008 | TCD Hist | Christopher Kissane | David Kenny | UCD L&H | Stephen Boyle |
| 2009 | TCD Hist | John Gallagher | Andrea Mulligan | UCD L&H | Jeremy Kinsella |
| 2010 | TCD Hist | Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin | Niall Sherry | Griffith College Dublin Griffith College Dublin Griffith College Dublin is a private third level college in the Republic of Ireland. It is based in and named after the former Griffith Barracks on the South Circular Road in Dublin. It offers courses accredited by a number of institutions and bodies in Ireland and Britain... |
Sean O'Quigley |
| 2011 | King's Inns | Lorcan Price | Áine Hartigan | TCD Law | Mark Thuillier |
Notable participants
Many winners have had successful careers in lawLaw of the Republic of Ireland
The law of the Republic of Ireland consists of constitutional, statute and common law. The highest law in the Republic is the Constitution of Ireland, from which all other law derives its authority...
. Former winners in the legal field include Supreme Court judges Adrian Hardiman
Adrian Hardiman
Adrian Hardiman has been a justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 7 February 2000. He received the rare honour of being appointed directly from the Bar to Ireland's highest court. Many commentators were surprised by his appointment as he was a relatively young man making it likely he would...
and Donal O'Donnell
Donal O'Donnell
Donal O'Donnell is a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 2010.He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and was educated at St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast, University College Dublin, King's Inns and the University of Virginia....
; Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judges Esmond Smyth, Kevin O'Higgins, and Brian Curtin
Brian Curtin
Brian Curtin is a former barrister and Irish circuit court judge, who was tried for possessing images of child pornography. After the case collapsed, the question of whether Curtin could continue as a judge became the focus of political and legal dispute. An impeachment motion was launched in the...
; Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
s Dermot Gleeson
Dermot Gleeson
Dermot Gleeson is a barrister, former Irish government advisor and businessman born in Cork, Ireland in 1949. He is married with four children and lives in Dublin....
, Aidan Browne, and Gregory Murphy; and professor Conor Gearty
Conor Gearty
Conor A. Gearty is the Rausling Professor of Human Rights Law and Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics.-Background:...
. James Connolly, winner in 1974, was Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland
Bar Council of Ireland
The Bar Council of Ireland is the regulatory and representative body for barristers practising law in the Republic of Ireland. The Council is composed of twenty-five members composed of twenty elected members, four co-opted members and Attorney-General who holds office ex officio. The elected...
and recently chair of public inquiries in Dublin.
David O'Sullivan, winner in 1974, became secretary general to the President of the European Commission
President of the European Commission
The President of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission ― the executive branch of the :European Union ― the most powerful officeholder in the EU. The President is responsible for allocating portfolios to members of the Commission and can reshuffle or dismiss them if needed...
. Maeve Collins, winner in 1989, is the Irish Ambassador to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Neville Keery, 1960 winner, was a member of the 12th Seanad
Members of the 12th Seanad
This is a list of the members of the 12th Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. These Senators were elected or appointed in 1969, after the 1969 general election and served until the close of poll for the 13th Seanad in 1973.-Composition of the 12th Seanad:There are a...
, and later Head of Libraries of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
Other well-known former winners include broadcasters Anthony Clare
Anthony Clare
Anthony Ward Clare was an Irish psychiatrist well known in the UK and Ireland as a presenter of radio and TV programmes.-Career:...
, Henry Kelly
Henry Kelly
Patrick Henry Kelly is an Irish television presenter and radio DJ.Henry Kelly was born in Athlone, Co Westmeath, Ireland. He was educated at Belvedere College SJ, and at University College Dublin where he was Auditor of the Literary and Historical Society...
, Derek Davis
Derek Davis
Derek Orlando Davis is an Irish broadcaster. On television, he has co-hosted Live at 3, presented Out of the Blue and won Celebrity Bainisteoir.-Early life:...
, Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh, and Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane is an Irish broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has worked with the national broadcaster since in 1976, starting as a continuity announcer. She was the first presenter of Liveline...
; comedian Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain is an Irish stand-up comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting topical panel shows such as The Panel and Mock the Week....
; and writers Eamonn McCann
Eamonn McCann
Eamonn McCann is an Irish journalist, author and political activist.-Life:McCann was born and has lived most of his life in Derry. He was educated at St. Columb's College in the city. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St...
, Gerry Stembridge and Kevin Cahill
Kevin Cahill (author)
Kevin Cahill FRSA is an author and investigative journalist, living in Devon, England...
.
The losing finalists in 1966 included future President
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
s Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
and Michael D. Higgins
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins is the ninth and current President of Ireland, having taken office on 11 November 2011 following victory in the 2011 Irish presidential election. Higgins is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, author and broadcaster. Higgins was President of the Labour Party until his...
. Future Tánaiste
Tánaiste
The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...
Mary Harney
Mary Harney
Mary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...
and Minister Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
also appeared as finalists.