On Friday, March 14th, Loreto Balbriggan had the privilege of hosting the annual Inter-Loreto Debate Competition. We were delighted to welcome debaters, teachers, and supporters from Loreto schools in Fermoy, Kilkenny, Swords, Foxrock, Beaufort, and St. Stephen’s Green for a day of engaging and thought-provoking debate.

Representing our school in the junior competition were two outstanding teams: Eleanor O’Connor and Megan Mulrennan, and Cressida Maclene and Jennifer Anna Lanigan O’Keefe, all talented 2nd Year students. Both teams delivered exceptional performances in the junior semi-finals, impressing the adjudicators so much that all four students progressed to the final. In a thrilling debate against Loreto Fermoy and Loreto Beaufort, it was Loreto Balbriggan A—Eleanor and Megan—who emerged victorious, bringing home the coveted trophy. Meanwhile, Cressida and Jennifer Anna earned high praise as runners-up, with the judges commending the remarkable standard of debating across all our teams.

Our debaters were supported by a dedicated group of junior students who followed the competition closely, inspired by the skill and passion displayed throughout the day. Excitement is already building for next year’s event, as our students aim to defend the title! A special thank you goes to our 5th Year volunteers, who played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of the competition. These students warmly welcomed our visiting schools and took on important roles as timekeepers and chairpersons during both the semi-finals and final.

Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with insightful speeches, well-reasoned arguments, and spirited debate. Congratulations to all participating Loreto teams, and especially to our Loreto Balbriggan champions.

Oak Seed Orchard Launch

Two of our students, Ella and Hannah Finnegan, had the unique opportunity to attend a significant environmental event during National Tree Week. They were present as the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Brian McDonagh, planted the first tree in the newly established Oak Seed Orchard at Hampton, Balbriggan, adjacent to Ardgillan Castle. This important initiative is being developed by Fingal County Council in collaboration with Coillte and the Forest Genetic Resources Trust (FGRT). The Oak Seed Orchard spans an area of 2.5 acres and will house over 150 native Sessile Oak trees of Irish genetic origin. The plantation of these oak trees is not just a step towards increasing the tree population in Fingal but also a significant measure in the conservation of genetic diversity in native Irish oaks. Once mature, the trees will produce acorns that will be used to establish new oak forests across Fingal and beyond. This will ensure the preservation of native oak species while providing trees that are well-adapted to various growing conditions in Ireland.