Students speak out in Co final
KATIE Dunbar from Our Lady’s secondary school in Rosbercon, New Ross and Ailbhe Harrington from Coláiste Bride, Enniscorthy are the County Wexford winners of this year’s Soroptomists Public Speaking Competition.
At the event held in the Riverbank House Hotel, Priscilla Akinyemi from Coláiste Bride was also chosen as a reserve contestant.
The students will now go forward to the regional stage of the annual competition in Dungarvan on February 8.
A total of 16 female students from five second level schools, Ramsgrange Community College, Loreto Wexford, Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy, Our Lady’s, Rosbercon, New Ross and St. Mary’s, New Ross, participated in the County Wexford competiton, speaking on topics including mental health, the environment, democracy and the empowerment of women.
The speakers included Lily Power, Roisin O Sullivan, Lily Anne Holohan, Eadaoin Walshe, Anna Moore, Precious Obasohan, Jane Sutton, Cara Power, Hannah Chapman, Mary Beth Gaynor, Priscilla Akinyemu, Katie Dunbar, Ciara Kavanagh, Anna Ryan, Ciara Lautwein and Ailbhe Harrington.
The adjudicators were Áine Gannon, Catherine O’ Carroll and Mary Kerr.
The Soroptomists public speaking competition was started 38 years ago with the aim of encourageinggirls to play a more prominent part in public life, to improve the art of communication and to develop self-confidence and personality.
The national winner receives the Perpetual Mildred O’Brien Trophy and an Apple iPad with a prize to the value of €1,000 for the winning school.