Students focus on women’s issues
THE Wexford Soroptimists’ public speaking competition attracted entries from all around the county and raised a number of key issues facing society.
The event was held in the Riverbank House Hotel and featured entries from secondary schools in the New Ross, Wexford and Gorey areas.
Speaking to this newspaper about the event one of the organisers, Mary Kerr, said it was a great success.
‘It was the 39th year we’ve held the debating competition nationally and also in Wexford,’ said Ms Kerr who is also the President of the Wexford organisation.
‘The speakers were of a very high standard and they talked about some very important issues like female emancipation and women’s rights,’ she added.
Among many important topics discussed on the night was climate change especially in the wake of people like Sir David Attenborough stating it’s one of the biggest threats facing humanity. Ms Kerr said the Wexford event was the local phase of the national competition from which two girls went forward to the regional final.
The two qualifiers were Charlotte Glynn, from the Presentation School, Wexford, and Álanna Hammell, from Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge.
They will now go up against six other students in the regional final - which will take place in Co Wexford in February - in the hope of making it all the way to the national final.
Ms Kerr congratulated the two girls on their victory and wished them the best of luck in the regionals. She also complimented all of the other girls who competed in the local final and praised them for setting very high standards.
Ms Kerr also acknowledged HSBC for sponsoring the prizes.