Irish Rising in America
The 2004 Irish Tour of America
Highlights
On Tuesday, April 6, Irish arrive in Los Angeles, California from Dublin, Ireland.
On Sunday, April 11, Irish leave Los Angeles, California for Salt Lake City, Utah.
Proposed Flight:
- Flight Delta Airlines #939, LA to Salt Lake City, depart 11:05am & arrive at 1:48pm
On Wednesday, April 14, Irish leave Salt Lake City, Utah for the University of Arkansas. Leaving as early as possible.
On Friday, April 16, Irish leave Arkansas for Western Washington. Arriving at Seattle Tacoma airport by 2 p.m.
On Monday, April 19, Irish leave Seattle, Washington for El Paso, Texas. Early morning flight.
On Wednesday, April 21, Irish leave El Paso, Texas for the University of Iowa. Early morning flight.
On Friday, April 23, Irish leave Iowa for Chicago, Illinois. I’m working on an alternative to flying….the next stop is only 260 miles away…stay tuned.
On Saturday, April 24, Irish fly to Dublin, Ireland from Chicago, Illinois.
Irish Tour of America, arranged by Pax Rhetorica
Center for Global Dialogue
EIN: 81-1274216
Brent Northup, Founding Director
Biographies
Introducing the Irish: Paul Brady, David Whelan & Michael Moriarity
The American debaters who will oppose the Irish at the public debate at the NPDA National tournament may well have trouble capturing, let alone subduing, the three eloquent leprechauns chosen to represent Ireland at the annual Irish-American debate. The Irish champions were victorious at the Irish Times Debate Final held on Thursday, Feb. 26 at Dublin City University.
The champions of Ireland include a two-time world finalist who is attending law school, a two-time winner of a prestigious Irish debating award and a debater who blitzed through the year-long Irish Times competition without losing a single round.
Paul Brady, of King’s Inn Law School, David Whelan in his final year at University College Dublin, and Michael Moriarity, a third-year student of law at Dublin City University will travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 7 for the NPDA public debate. Representing NPDA will be Kristen Barton of the University of Wyoming, Keith West of Lewis & Clark College and Ian O’Brian Ferrin O’Connell of Colorado College.
Whelan was chosen as an alternate, replacing team winner Ian Kehoe of Dublin City University, who declined the trip both because of a rigorous academic schedule and because he himself participated in the Irish-American debate in 2002, as an alternate for Conor Buckley who was unable to attend that year.
Paul Brady: Brady, 24, is the Dublin son of a lawyer and a businesswoman. He has debated for six years, reaching the final
round of the world championships at both Sidney, Australia and Toronto, Canada. Brady is a three-time Irish Times semi-finalist, winning in his fourth try. Brady is a post-graduate law school student anticipating a career as an Irish barrister. He has traveled in the United States, including a three-month stay in Chicago in the fall of 2001.
Brady is a ”dean” of Irish debate, serving as a friend and mentor to many younger debaters while continuing to compete. Both last year’s champion Leo Mulrooney and David Whelan are thankful for Brady’s support and training along the way.
Brady laughed at the irony that some of his younger friends – ones he helped train – won the trip to America before Brady finally got his chance.
”I’m absolutely thrilled to win and look forward to a clash of wits in the U.S.A.,” said Brady.
David Whelan: Whelan, 21, is a third-year student at University College Dublin, where he is an undergraduate studying law. The Dublin son of a pharmacist and a biologist, he plans to attend law school at King’s Inn and then to practice law in Ireland. His interests include human rights and constitutional law. Whelan has twice been honored as the ”top of the tab” at the Cork Intervarsity tournament, an honor equivalent to ”best speaker” at American tournaments. Whelan has debated for five years, winning the Dean Swift Intervarsity Competition in Trinity College Dublin and advancing to the Irish Times final in 2003. He competed at Worlds in Singapore. His debate career began in style, as he was won the ”national maiden speaker award” given to the best first-year debater in the country. Whelan has visited the states five times, including an extended stay in South Carolina.
”I’m delighted and surprised for this opportunity,” said Whelan.
Michael Moriarity: Moriarity, 22, is from Monaghan, a small town of 6,000 near Northern Ireland. The son of two teachers, Moriarity is in his final year studying accounting and finance at Dublin City University. He is planning to accept a job offer at a major Irish accounting firm this October. Moriarity started debating just 18 months ago, and won the Irish Times competition this year without losing a round! He attended Worlds in Singapore this year. His victories include the University Limerick tournament in 2003. Moriarity, who has dual American-Irish citizenship, has visited America four times, often to spend time with his father’s family. Moriarity is active in student politics, serving as Deputy President of his university’s Student Union last year.
”I was shocked but delighted that we won,” he said.
After participating in the public debate at NPDA nationals, Brady, Whelan and Moriarty will visit five campuses as part of their national tour. The stops will include the University of Utah, the University of Arkansas, Western Washington University, El Paso Community College and the University of Iowa. Along the way, the Irish will take a ferry to Vancouver Island, attend a Seattle Mariners baseball game, visit Mexico and enjoy a night in Chicago hosted by a member of the well-known Second Comedy Club of Chicago. The trip starts on April 6 and ends April 24.
Brady, Whelan and Moriarity were among the 12 survivors of a yearlong national debating competiting sponsored by the Irish Times. More than 130 teams competed in four elimination events held throughout the country from October through January. The top four teams plus the top four individuals (outstanding debaters whose teams were defeated in earlier rounds) participated in the Irish Times Final.