A very memorable term for the Intermediate school, founded in 1909, celebrating ninety years of History in the town of Killorglin, its debating team consisting of Maria Sheppard and Padraic Brick won the All Ireland Schools’ Debating Competition in University College Dublin on Friday April 23^rd.

This win is remarkable not only because the Intermediate School has won it for the first time but because it is the first time in the long history of the competition that it has been won by a school outside of our major cities Cork, Dublin, Galway and Belfast.

In Roman times there were three types of Schools, Elementary, Grammar, and third level was the school of Rhetoric - the third level emphasised Rhetoric or public speaking. I have always put an emphasis on communication and public speaking, thus the origin of the Forum in our school, which is a weekly/fortnightly public speaking session for all years.

Mr. Shane O'Shea, since his arrival in the school in 1991 has taken responsibility for coaching teams for this competition, he has devoted many hours after school, or weekends and during holidays when the need arose. Often he and his candidates can be heard declaiming in many areas of the school, some of his pupils won the Munster stage and reached the All Ireland in previous years but this year he and the school have been rewarded with the great victory of the All Ireland.

On the results of this, the team were invited to participate in the British Isles final of the Observer Mace Competition in Edinburgh on Saturday 8^th of May. This was held in the Old Royal High School of Edinburgh, which was to be the seat of the new Scottish Parliament, however it was decided that it was too small.

This Assembly room was most imposing and rather daunting, but Maria Sheppard and Padraic Brick attired in their new blazers presented to them by Bank Of Ireland were not over awed. On the evening in question they were both most unpressed in their arguments, they had depth, clarity, precision and a felicity of diction that mapped them out as top class speakers.

While the Adjudicators were out adjudicating all the other teams, the audience put the betting on our team, alas it was not to be and people were rather stunned and showed this by the applause given to our team when taking their prize.

I was disappointed for Maria and Padraic, as the first prize was an invitation to participate in the World Competition in Pittsburgh. Let me hasten to add I was deeply proud of our team that they had reached this world standard of public speaking.

To Shane O'Shea my thanks

Multas Gratias

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

So near and yet so far.

It was a thirty four hour rollercoaster of a trip. Dublin airport 7.00 a.m., final link up with Mr Shane O' Shea, Marie, Padraic, Mr O'Dwyer and family friends. Touch down Edinburgh 8.35a.m. in a dense mist, a most apt backdrop to a beautiful city - taxi to The Maitland Hotel and a rehearsal for The Mace Final that night: May 8th-motion: ''This House supports an independent Kosovo''.

I was instantly impressed at the high standard achieved by Marie and Padraic as they skilfully proposed the motion. Obviously Mr O ' Shea had done Trojan work in guiding them to the All Ireland crown and then honing them to flex their oratorical muscles against the best schools in England, (King Edwards, Birmingham) Scotland (The High School of Glasgow) and Wales (Bishop of Llandoff).

If good in rehearsal, the Intermediate team was excellent that night against the Scottish Champions. They did themselves, their school and their country proud by coming a very close second to a team that included a world-debating champion. In the opinion of over eighty percent of those in attendance The Observer Mace for schools should now be resting in a place of honour reserved normally for goats in the lovely town of Killorglin. ‘‘Robbed", ''highway robbery'', ''shame'' were some of the post debate comments.

It was a most enjoyable experience for me to join such a talented and friendly group and my sole regret, as national coach for the past three world schools finals, is that I didn't have two talented debaters of the calibre of Padraic and Marie on the Irish team.

Dick Wafer

Irish National Debating Coach.

The All Ireland Schools Debating Competition is sponsored by the E.S.B. and is organised by the following University societies: -

Literary and Historical Society is UCD's oldest and most active student society. Founded in 1885 in St. Stephen’s Green by Cardinal John Henry Newman, the Society has become an institution of Irish Life.

Almost everyone who has been prominent in Irish Life in the last century has either been a member of or addressed the Society. UCD's L &H provides, first and foremost, a forum for discussion and debate for those who wish to use it, but it also allows its members to hear the views of those who influence world and domestic affairs.

The Society holds its meetings on Friday nights in Theatre M of the John Henry Newman Building in Belfast and all are welcome to attend. Every week during term L&H discusses issues that affect the students of UCD and the people of Ireland. Guests of national and international repute address the society at these meetings and they coupled with student speakers, ensure that those who attend get a wide range of opinions.

Among the guests who have addressed the Society this year are Paddy Ashdown MP, Lord Douglas Hurd, Lord Gingham, F. W. de Klerk, and actor Richard E. Grant. The L&H is proud to once again host the national Final, the largest and amongst the most prestigious debating competitions on this island.

The college Historical Society traces its roots back to the debating club founded by Edmund Burke in 1747. It was incorporated into Trinity College in 1770, and therefore the oldest undergraduate debating society of the world. The society has continued to grow into the 1990's. It has been addressed by every President and every Taoiseach of Ireland at one stage or another, and is regarded as a highly attractive forum for politicians, academics and all those in the media spotlight. Among those to have addressed the Society in recent years are An Taoiseach, Sir Bob Geldof, the late Dermot Morgan, Sean Moncrieff, Kate Adie, Sir Patrick Mayhew and Arthur Scargill to name a few.

The Leinster Schools' Debating Competition has always played an integral part of the Hist. We are delighted to be associated with the competition, and congratulate all those who have competed this year.

The College Philosophical Society of University College Cork is currently entering its 148th Session founded by the Anglican Chaplain in early 1850. Presidents of the Philosoph have included Daniel Corkery, Garret Fitzgerald, Seamus Mallon, Peter Sutherland and Charles J. Haughey. In recent years, the Society has experienced tremendous success in competitive debating, with a clean sweep of the 1995 Irish Times Debating Competition, the Glasgow Ancients and the Edinburgh Intervarsities.

The Literary and Debating Society was founded in 1846 by the first entrants to Queens College Galway. This makes the Lit 'n' Deb (as it is affectionately known) the oldest society in NUI, Galway. As the student numbers grew from 800 in the 1960's to a present day total of 9,500 the society boasts the largest membership of any University based society in the British Isles or Ireland.

In 1995 under the regal Auditorship of John Sweeney the Society set the World record for the longest continuous debate. Members of the society spent the entire month of February debating on the motion that 'this house has all the time in the world'. The 152nd session, which commenced in September, hosted Guest Speaker debates on Feminism, Abortion and Europe and the John Smith Memorial Observer Mace International Intervarsity Debates Final, the first time in ten years the competition was held in Ireland.

On Friday, April 23^rd, in U.C.D. our school won the E.S.B. All Ireland Schools’ Debating final. It was the first victory for a school outside a major Irish city and it led to the school team representing Ireland at the International final of the Schools’ Mace, in Edinburgh.

On Saturday 8th May 1999, at the Old Royal High School, in the Scottish capital, the champions of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland clashed for the prestigious trophy, the Silver Mace. Defeating England and Wales. The Intermediate school team lost narrowly to Scotland but were delighted to represent their country and do themselves, their school and their country proud.

Picture this, standing in front of three hundred people isolated and faced to argue on the motion, "That this house supports NATO bombing of Yugoslavia". As I glance around to gain their attention, about to embark on our mission to claim the All-Ireland Debating title for Mr O'Shea and the school, two of the eight-adjudicator panel stare up at me. Suddenly, I recall that their High Court judges. My stomach begins to convulse in knots but then I remember, "I'm in control".

After, my speech I receive a tremendous applause and I tell myself, "This is what its all about the sense of achievement, the satisfaction and finally the John Dillon Shield". As they announced the winners Padraic and I realised that the two years of hard work have all been worth it. When we first started debating in fourth year we never thought that this could have been possible. It was an amazing achievement for us to get to go and represent Ireland in the Observer Mace debating competition in Edinburgh.

For a relatively small school in Killorglin to compete against the best private schools from England, Scotland and Wales with fees of six thousand pounds for day students alone was a tremendous feat.

I would like to thank Mr O'Dwyer for his support and especially Mr O'Shea for his coaching and for giving up a considerable amount of his personal time to help us. Personally, I feel that students in our school need to recognise debating not as a daunting experience but as a great confidence booster.

Marie Sheppard

Marie Sheppard Speech One: Edinburgh

One reality that we must recognise tonight Ladies and Gentlemen is that we are discussing the issue of Kosovo on the 8th of May 1999 not on some date pre the bombing. Many of the arguments against the independence of Kosovo have actually been overtaken by the reality of ethnic cleansing and the bombing of Yugoslavia in recent weeks.

Indeed most observers were largely against the independence of Kosovo in January of this year because it would need an armed conflict to achieve it - armed Ladies and Gentlemen, has happened. Padraic and I support the independence of Kosovo in order to find meaning in this Balkan carnage and we propose that NATO act as the guarantor of Kosovo's independence. The transition to a pluralist, democratic and independence state would best be aided by NATO Ladies and Gentlemen, to ensure stability, to protect Serbs living in Kosovo, to disarm the KLA and to provide a Marshall Aid type package that will ultimately see Kosovo join the EU and other such organisations.

We wish to argue in support of the independence of Kosovo, on three particular fronts Ladies and Gentlemen;

Firstly I will maintain, that the independence of Kosovo, brings the greatest sense of justice to the current situation, sidelining Milosevic and the K.L.A. and offering the Kosovars the best possible future.

Secondly, I intend to prove that the independence of Kosovo will send extremely useful signals to all states in the Balkans in relation to their future conduct and the need for positive multi-ethnic policies.

And finally my colleague Padraic will argue that the arrival of an independent Kosovo will in fact create a greater degree of stability than instability in the Balkans.

If a sense of justice is to prevail in the Balkans in this situation Kosovo must have independence. Kosovo's detachment from Serbia would deal a fatal blow to the major destabilising force in the Balkans; Slobodan Milosevic and unleash the more constructive forces, in Serbian politics that we glimpsed two years ago during the anti-Milosevic demonstrations on the street of Belgrade. Milosevic has never been able to function in an environment devoid of a crisis and Kosovo has been central to his survival as a means of distractions and as a reason for muzzling criticism. The realisation Ladies and Gentlemen, that Serbia has been bombed for nothing but to endure the loss of Kosovo anyway would signal a backlash and Milosevic’s political demise. Also Ladies and Gentlemen, a truncated Serbia could not be as antagonistic towards its neighbours. Lets be clear Ladies and Gentlemen, about one thing. It is necessary for N.A.T.O to act in a decisive manner and the only meaningful condemnation of Serbia's actions is to remove Serbia's legal right in an unambiguous manner. Anything less than independence creates ambiguity and an opportunity for the old fox Milosevic to claim a victory of some sort. At Rambouillet he was facing autonomy for Kosovo and de facto independence after three years so it follows that anything less that total independence for Kosovo now would be a victory for Serbia.

Also in the current political situation we recognise that if independence is not given to Kosovo we are playing right into the lands of the extremists particularly the K.L.A. The K.L.A has only grown because of this catastrophe but it isn't an overtly popular organisation amongst the Kosovars due to its imposition of a war tax on homeless refugees. There is an opportunity to sideline the extremists - by removing their raison d'etre and giving Kosovo independence. Otherwise Ladies and Gentlemen, the exclusion of independence after this genocidal catastrophe will appear an unpalatable injustice that will fuel the K.L.A. campaign guaranteed to create more instability in the Balkans.

Independence Ladies and Gentlemen, strengthens Rugovas democratic land and makes it easier in the long run for NATO to disarm the K.L.A.

While the independence of Kosovo can bring justice to the Balkans in this particular case it can also send useful signals to other states in the Balkans. The message would be very clear Ladies and Gentlemen. If you sideline minority ethnic groups, refuse to take on board pluralist policies and eventually attack them you can expect to pay a heavy and concrete price. Instead of Macedonia constantly squirming over its demographic situation it would put the onus on Macedonia to treat its minority ethnic groups fairly thus removing their complaints and stabilising the country in a positive manner. It would send a signal to the Kosovar Albanians themselves that now they have independence they must respect minorities otherwise they run the risk of real loss as in the case of Serbia. Kosovo’s independence would signal the need for a tolerance of necessity Ladies and Gentlemen, not the best type of tolerance, I agree, but a tolerance that could be built on in the Balkans. Remove the culture of impunity Ladies and Gentlemen, and make people pay in kind for their atrocities and people will think before they act, therefore Kosovo’s independence can be the psychological lightswitch that reminds people in the Balkans to act responsibly.

The eagerness for early exit strategies leaving Kosovo Ladies and Gentlemen, in some sort of limbo must be resisted otherwise everything has been for nothing. The decisive step of giving Kosovo its independence would signal Balkan states that the world didn’t just want to put out the fire but really help build a new stable order in the Balkans. Some states therefore may follow Romania and Bulgaria's lead of seeking admission to N.A.T.O and European institutions, which would ultimately reduce paranoia, create dialogue and encourage consensus. N.A.T.O must invest in Kosovo’s independence Ladies and Gentlemen literally by a Marshall Aid type plan and symbolically by using it to signal the need for a new sense of justice in the Balkans.

Not surprisingly, I beg to propose.

Debating

"I don't know how you can stand up in front of all those people"- This is something that I have a heard a lot this year from other students in school. Little do they realise that standing up in front of all those people is the easy bit - it is what comes next that is difficult. It takes a certain type of person to be able to take a motion that is given to them and despite their original beliefs argue fervently in favour of it. These people can present their argument so passionately that mere strength of belief can sway the audience's and, indeed, the adjudicator's opinion. Marie and I have both improved greatly due, in small part, to the tutelage of Mr. O'Shea.

"There is nothing to fear but fear itself" - A proverb that Marie and I found did not apply because in a debate, there is plenty to fear. I can safely say that I have been nervous during every debate in which I participated. What has changed over the two years is what caused me to be nervous. In the first few debates, I worried about what I was doing while giving my speech. Was I standing properly and making the proper gestures or was I making a complete and utter fool of myself? Once I had accepted that it was the latter, I then moved on to worry about what I was saying. Did the point sound sensible, and more importantly, why did no one laugh at my jokes? After this phase, it was what the other speakers were saying that made me most anxious but finally, I began to worry about the only really important people at the debate - the judges. I used always glance at them to see were they laughing at the jokes and taking down the main points of my argument or were they really daydreaming and counting the number of minutes until the end of the debate.

"Security is Mortal's chiefest enemy" This Shakespearean quote does not apply to the world of debating either because security and confidence are a debater's greatest ally. Even if you make a fool of yourself, no one laughs at your jokes and the adjudicators snore right through your speech, if your are confident you will survive.

Instead of being seen as a fool, you will appear unshakeable. Even the driest of jokes that you make will put the audience laughing and the adjudicators will be so mesmerised be your conviction that they might even stay awake. It is easy to see the effect a lack of confidence has on speakers in a debate. They cling to the lectern for dear life because it is the only thing separating them from the hundreds of staring eyes in the audience. They are afraid to make jokes or they fix their eyes on a spot at the back of the hall for seven minutes of the speech, not realising that it is not a spot on a wall that they are trying to convince. They may have a well-researched speech, which contains many great insights into the motion in question, but without the confidence to back it up, it is simply lost. Conversely, Marie and I have seen many good speakers make completely absurd and nonsensical points with such certitude and a small amount of humour that it appeared completely plausible to the audience. As a result of this, the worst thing that you can do to a debater (or the best depending on which way you choose to look at it), is to batter their confidence and make them unsure of themselves.

"Believe in yourself and you can do anything" Whoever said this must have been a debater. Experience in debating is invaluable because it teaches you to be confident even when you are not. It is very hard to believe in yourself when faced with the best schools in Ireland and Britain but Marie and I were lucky that if ever our belief in ourselves faltered, we had more than enough parents, teachers and friends to make for it.

Padraic Brick

Padraic Brick Speech Two: Edinburgh

Marie, Ladies and Gentlemen, obviously proposed that Kosovo should have independence and that that independence would not be created by the flourish of a magic wand but by a NATO run implementation force providing financial and practical aid in creating this new sovereignty.

Many analysts, Ladies and Gentlemen, (Like Mr. Hudson), assume that the creation of an independent Kosovo will destabilise the Balkans and create anything from a massive Albania to a tiny Macedonia. How valid, Ladies and Gentlemen, in the present climate is this instability theory. Let’s take for example, Macedonia.

Everyone knows (thanks to Mr. Hudson), that before the war, it had a minority of Albanians living within its borders. Macedonia certainly didn’t need a rise in this Albanian population but such an increase was created by Milosevic’s policy of driving Kosovar refugees over the border in order to destabilise his neighbours. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, if we create an independent Kosovo and these Kosovar refugees leave Macedonia to return to their homes, how will this destabilise Macedonia? If refugees going into Macedonia destabilises the country – surely Kosovar refugees going out, can only help the situation.

There is this theory also, Ladies & Gentlemen, that if we create an independent Kosovo we will soon have a huge Albanian confederation threatening the Balkans but how realistic is this? Nicholas Rizopolous writing in 'The Washington Post' pointed out as recently as April 15^th that this is an extremely simplistic analysis. He points out that the Kosovar Albanians despite their common language and Muslim religion are quite different from the Albanian Albanians. The Kosovars have experienced quite a different history, a different form of communism and tend to be better educated than those in Albania proper. These differences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Make a merger between Albania and an independent Kosovo extremely unlikely to well-informed observers of the Balkans like Rizpolous and Jonathan Eyal.

They point out also that Albania isn't an attractive ally particularly after the pyramid shares debacle so the idea of an Albanian Confederation threatening anyone is about as realistic as the possibility of William Hague becoming a well known politician.

Now you can continue to argue, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the Macedonian Albanians will split with Macedonia and join an independent Kosovo but I think my colleague Marie made an interesting point here. She showed that an independent Kosovo would be the signal to the other Balkan states to introduce a multi-ethnic policy or suffer the consequences by repeating Serbia's mistakes.

An independent Kosovo would teach Macedonia the wisdom of dialogue and the wisdom of expanding the rights of minorities and this would obviously, Ladies and Gentlemen, undercut the demands of militants for unification with Kosovo. The principle of toleration by necessity would reinforce the Dayton Agreement and also control Kosovar behaviour towards Serbs living in the newly independent Kosovo.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen, Independence for Kosovo, therefore improves the refugee situation, improves the situation in Macedonia, doesn't threaten the Balkans realistically with an Albanian Confederation and encourage the growth of multi-ethnic policies.

If an independent Kosovo creates any instability its benevolent instability, Ladies and Gentlemen, which threaten Milosevic and the K.L.A. As Marie pointed out, Kosovar independence will signal the end of Milosevic’s manipulation of the Kosovo question to keep himself in power and it's the absence of this independence also that provides opportunities for gunmen and criminal organisations to prosper.

How compelling, Ladies and Gentlemen, are the alternatives to Kosovo's Independence (and in particular how compelling is the alternative championed by the opposition). There are two important aspects to be recognised if you don't give Kosovo independence. Firstly, anything less than independence rewards Milosevic and his policy of ethnic cleansing, and secondly, anything less than independence recreates the problems that were actually there in January of this year before the bombing. Realistically, Ladies and Gentlemen, the options other than independence aren't very credible.

You can try the approach favoured by the opposition that is ....

You can try creating an international protectorate but this is only a stop-gap measure which will almost always lead to a referendum which will at the end of the day mean independence.

You can try autonomy, Ladies and Gentlemen, but you have to recognise that this was revoked before in the 1980's by Milosevic and that surely, Serbia has forfeited its right to Kosovo

You can try creating a safe haven but you can hardly expect refugees to have confidence in this due to their memory of Bosnia and particularly, Srebenica.

Most proposals, Ladies and Gentlemen, in plain language delay the inevitable, and the inevitable is independence for Kosovo. The opposition favoured solution is really anything other than giving independence but if you don't give it, Ladies and Gentlemen,

the Kosovars will fight for it and the genocide gives them a legitimacy that is hard to argue against.

Tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, Marie and I have proved our case based on three particular arguments.

1. Marie proved that an Independent Kosovo would remove the threat of Milosevic and the KLA and bring a proper sense of justice to bear on this catastrophe - a justice that these people can live with

2. Marie also proved that the independence of Kosovo would be a defining moment in Balkan history establishing the necessity for multi-ethnic policies and minority rights and the price to be paid if they were ignored.

3. And finally, I showed, Ladies and Gentlemen, how fears of instability due to the creation of this new state were completely unfounded on close inspection of Balkan dynamics.

Not surprisingly, Ladies and Gentlemen, I move to propose.

Padraic Brick – The Reply Speech

Life, Ladies and Gentlemen, is all about options - identifying your best option your second best option, your third option and somewhere along that sequence you reach the opposition argument. What some speakers (on the floor of the house) need to recognise, Ladies and Gentlemen, is that Marie and I haven't come here with the perfect solution, we have come here with the best solution -Kosovo's independence. The core issue in this debate here tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, is what is to happen to Kosovo?

The answer can be black or white or grey. We can give it independence, Ladies and Gentlemen, which is one option or we can (take the advice of the speaker over here and) basically return it to the status quo it didn't enjoy pre the bombing or we can do something indecisive, half-hearted, ambiguous, as this speaker would have it. Can we in all honestly expect these people to return to much the same situation they were in before the bombing after all they have gone through.

Are we now prepared to besmirch their identity further with some bind of synthetic artificial solution, that at times, we've heard mentioned tonight or, Ladies and Gentlemen, are we brave enough to give them their right to self-determination their right to an identity, their right to a proper future which no longer sees them discussed as a Balkan pawn, as suggested at times in the terminology of the opposition but as a nation.

If the opposition could come here tonight and say, Ladies and Gentlemen, that they were against Kosovo's independence because it would take a war, bloodshed and desolation to create it then, Ladies and Gentlemen, they would have had a compelling argument but we have had war, bloodshed and desolation and they have failed to find any credible substitute to re place that defunct argument.

Marie and I haven't depended on an emotional analysis of the Balkans situation or Kosovo’s right to emotional analysis of the Balkans situation or Kosovo's right to independence. We have deliberately been logical, rational and analytical because we believe that is the type of approach needed when one is discussing a grave issue like the foundation of a new state.

Marie has called for justice here tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, but she called for it not from the heart but from the head because she calls for a justice that will sideline Milosevic, a justice that will remove the very ground from under the KLA and a justice that will go some away to putting right this genocidal catastrophe.

Marie also argued in favour of Kosovo's independence because she proved it would act as a psychological light - switch for every state in the Balkans when the discrimination for ethnic cleansing crossed their mind.

The creation of Kosovo’s independence would be, she proved a defining moment in Balkan history imposing a tolerance of necessity in the Balkan region and removing the culture of impunity that hitherto existed. She spelt out very clearly the danger of early exit strategies leaving Kosovo in some sort of limbo which would ultimately mean that everything has been for nothing.

My contribution, Ladies and Gentlemen, was simply to prove that in fact in the current situation, Kosovo's independence was the only reasonable answer to the refuges problem and in fact would create far more stability than instability in the Balkan’s.

We didn't Ladies and Gentlemen, place before you the picture of a battered, bruised and tormented Kosovar refugee and tell you to give him an independent homeland because Ladies and Gentlemen, we didn't have to.

We move, Ladies and Gentlemen, to propose.

Reflections on the year

It must be said that I had reservations about this year. Most of my friends had proceeded to third level institutions. I had Leaving Certificate results to be delighted with and was ready for a change. It was my own decision to repeat to be absolutely sure of my career choice. Therefore I had to solidify my relations with the friends I had in the school and simultaneously forge new alliances. Ultimately I am very happy with my decision. I feel more confident in my own personal abilities and have developed new and interesting perspectives on school life and other matters.

The year was by no means an easy one. It was particularly difficult at times to maintain a clear focus on work. At the beginning of the year I decided to take up Construction Studies for the first time and this I believe helped me immensely as it is a practical subject whose applications are widespread. I would recommend this course of action to any student in a similar situation. It is also refreshing to have new and previously unknown work.

I too would like to congratulate both Marie Sheppard and Padraic Brick on their national and international success, which I hope will stand to them in the future.

On behalf of fellow Head Prefect, Orla Coffey and myself, I would like to thank our team of Prefects who worked in unison and who often made the difference between anarchy and order.

My very best wishes in the Leaving Certificate and future careers,

Gary Geiler

Y.E.S

The young entrepreneur scheme is a national voluntary Organisation, which has close ties with the County Enterprise Boards. The Boards administration and sponsor the schools competition on a County basis. Enterprise Ireland sponsors the regional and national finals. The schools competition is acknowledged as one of the best, not alone in Ireland, but in Europe for encouraging enterprise among our youth.

In our school, enterprise skills and mini-company formation are encouraged mainly in our transition time and also in our L.C.V.P classes (Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme). Among the many enterprises formed this year were personalised business Christmas cards, traditional Christmas candle design, book markers, cake sales, cribs and crib figures, mathematics formulae booklet, fridge magnet advertiser, and much more. The enterprise culture is alive and well.

The decision as to which would be our representatives at this year’s county final was difficult but eventually we decided on Personalised Christmas Cards, called CEF Enterprise, and Fridge magnet advertising called Magno Direct.

CEF enterprises was formed by Cathleen O’ Neil, Emma Woods, Faith Redmond and Hayely O’ Keefe. Magno Direct was formed by Aaron Fairclough and Oliver McDonald. Success was achieved in the county final with Magno Direct being a runner-up and a cheque for £75. CEF enterprises was declared the winner, received a cheque for £150 and went forward to the Regional Final in Limerick were they were again successful. Another cheque for £150 in prize money was received and the chance to exhibit at the National final in U.C.D.

On Sunday May 9^th, the three girls setoff for Dublin and U.C.D and following an eventful journey, courtesy of C.I.E., eventually arrived much later than anticipated. The Stand was set up, the product exhibited and the judging took place. The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Harney visited each stand and spoke to all contestants. The products were much admired, but alas it was not to be. Success instead going to the Kings Hospital School in Dublin with a Computer Services business. However much was learned on the day, and we can be proud of our National Finalists.

This was our second time at the National Finals. Last year Elaine O’ Donoghue and Lisa O’Leary exhibited their business, which was a Business and Social Planner

Third Time Lucky!

A glimpse of Paris The 4th year trip to Paris was without a doubt, a fantastic experience. Everyday brought with it new places, new knowledge and its fair share of mishaps, though saying that we enjoyed every one of them. Paris is a fantastic city, full of life, vibrancy and culture. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. O' Dwyer, Mr.Griffin and Miss Sheahan, we got to experience all, from the street vendors to the supermarkets, restaurants to take-away crêpes. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and I would recommend it to everyone.

1^st and 2^nd Year School Tour

We were all very excited that morning as we waited for he teachers to arrive. Just before half past eight we all piled into the buses, to find out about two minutes after, that we had to get off again. So we retreated back off the bus, had a roll call, sorted out luggage and trudged back onto the allocated bus. It was about half nine when we eventually got going.

SPACE ROOM

An oasis in the midst of activity is our space room, providing relaxation, inspiration and a feeling of well being.