A Co Antrim school debating team will argue how to defeat terrorism at an All-Ireland final showdown in Dublin this week.
Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle pupils are preparing for their competition with St Joseph's Presentation College, Lucan, Dublin at the final of the acclaimed Concern Debates contest today.
They hope to be the first from the north to win what is Ireland’s biggest schools debating competition since 1990 when it was won by St Patrick’s Grammar School in Armagh.
Cross and Passion College is the only other Northern Ireland school to have won the contest during its 32 year history, winning first prize in 1986.
This is also the first time schools from Northern Ireland have participated in Concern Debates since the early 1990s.
The two finalists - the last out of the 151 school teams who participated this year - will argue ways to defeat terror groups.
Cross and Passion College will oppose the motion that "to defeat terrorism the world must end poverty" while St. Joseph's will argue for it at The Helix venue in Dublin.
This follows both teams, each made up of a captain and three other speakers, successfully arguing that Britain should remain in the European Union at the semi-final.
Cross and Passion College is represented by Sorcha Hughes (17), Roisin Neill (18), Luiseach Mathers (17) and Orla Donnelly (17).
Captain Sorcha Hughes said: "We are delighted to reach the final and really excited."
Concern Worldwide's Schools Programme coordinator Evanna Craig, said Concern Debates had "undoubtedly changed dinner conversations all over the country".
"We are very proud of all the teams who took part this year – which saw more schools than ever participate," she said.
"We would urge any school or student interested in taking part next year to get in touch with us - there will probably be high demand so we may have to cap the numbers registering for the first time ever.
"The benefits are huge – and time and time again, our debaters tell us how it has inspired and helped them with their career choices by the time they did their leaving certificate exams, and really given them confidence starting out in college."
