Cork teens beat Eton College to claim prestigious debating title

Two Cork teens have claimed the scalp of the British school that boasts 19 former UK prime ministers by talking their way to a prestigious debating title.

By beating Eton College in the final of the International Schools Mace competition in London, Ronan Daly and Pádraic Malone of St Francis College in Rochestown became the second Irish team in successive years to clinch the prize.

The “mace” brings the champion debaters of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales into competition, with the motions provided to national representatives in advance. However, Ronan and Pádraic had no knowledge which side of the debate they would be on until shortly before the final last Saturday.