School debate opens alcohol conversation

TODAY, December 4, in the Ivy Leaf Arts Centre in Castleisland, transition year students from two local schools will debate the motion ‘Alcohol Causes More Harm Than Illegal Drugs in Irish Society.’

St. Patricks Boys Secondary School and Castleisland Community College will take part in the final of a debating competition organised by Castleisland Interagency Youth Forum as part of its strategy to combat alcohol related harm in the town.

The event will run from 10am to 12:30pm and will be chaired by

Hilary Scanlan, HSE community worker manager.

The forum was established in 2010 by the Castleisland/ Farranfore Primary Care Team as a response to concerns raised by the local community around the increasing levels of drug and alcohol use by young people in the area.

The agencies work in collaboration with the local community in developing action plans aimed at reducing alcohol and drug related related harms.

Also involved in the competition were the transition years from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland who put on a fantastic display of skills at the semi-final stage while opposing the motion that teen drinking is a serious problem in Ireland.

“We are thrilled with the enthusiasm that all of the schools have shown in engaging with this initiative and in particular with the high level of skills on all of the teams.

Because the endeavour has been such a success in 2019, we intend to roll it out again in 2020 ” said Dolores McElligott, chairperson of the Interagency Forum.