INTRODUCING THE IRISH
-Daniel Gilligan
“In Irish (Gaelic) we say Táim ar mhuin na muice – I’m on the pig’s back – for situations like this. I’ll leave that up to you to interpret, but needless to say I’m ecstatic.”
Aishling, Daniel and Ronan
A future lawyer, a rising historian and a budding nuclear physicist have debated their way to a tour of America after triumphing at the year-long all-island Irish debating championships.
Daniel Gilligan and Ronan Daly from Trinity College were crowned the winning team at the grand final of The Irish Times Debate on Friday, Feb. 22.
The winning individual was Kevin Roche of King’s Inns, but due to conflicting final exams, he stepped aside allowing the runner-up individual to head to America.
Thus, Aishling Kinsella of University College Dublin will join Gilligan and Daly on the tour.
Kinsella’s credentials are also sterling: she reached semi-finals at the world BP debating championships in South Africa in January.
The black-tie final was hosted by University College Dublin Law Society, in its elegant debating chambers, designed like a European parliamentary chamber with four tiered sides all descending to toward the speaker’s podium. Above, surrounding the chamber, were railings where overflow spectators could stand and watch the proceedings.
The topic for the 59 th Irish Times Grand Final was: This House would rescind Ireland’s position of neutrality in favour of a European standing army.
A spirited debate ensued with government teams arguing that Ireland should contribute more to European defense, while the opposition cited the wisdom and benefits of traditional Irish neutrality.
Gilligan and Daly won from the government side, as did Roche.
The Irish Times covered the event, and reported that Kinsella, on side opposition, defended Irish neutrality. Kinsella, called on Ireland “to be aware of when powerful states attempt to bully and lie to us”
about the need and consequences of war.
Gilligan and Daly disagreed.
“Irish neutrality has always been a grand act of self-exception,” said Gilligan.
“This debate is about the profound distance between who we are, are who we believe ourselves to be,” said Daly.
The Grand Final was chaired by Jack Chambers, a TD (Teachta Dala) who is a member of the lower House of Parliament in Ireland. Chambers is a member of Fianna Fail, a conservative political party.
The final was standing-room only, with 200 or more observers at UCD.
Aishling Kinsella, 21, a third-year student at University College Dublin, is majoring in physics, focusing on astronomy and space science.
Kinsella is from Hollystown in Northwest Dublin,
Aishling Kinsella, 21, a third-year student at University College Dublin, is majoring in physics, focusing on astronomy and space science. Kinsella is from Hollystown in Northwest Dublin
Daniel Gilligan, 21, a third-year student at Trinity College Dublin, is studying law and political science.Gilligan is headed towards a career as a lawyer, or perhaps in academics. Gilligan is from Dublin.
Ronan Daly, 19, a second-year student from Trinity College, is majoring in history and political science and eyeing a possible future as a historian. Daly hails from Cork, in southern Ireland.
All three are experienced debaters, having won many top events.
Daly has debated in the Irish Times Final twice, winning this year and also has won the International Schools Mace competition.
Gilligan has competed in the Irish final twice, reached semi-finals at the European championships, and was a semi-finalist at the high school World Schools Debating Championship in 2014.
Kinsella, who debates with former Irish Times winner Aisling Tully, lost in the semi-finals of the world championships this year, on a 4-3 decision. Kinsella was a top 10 speaker at the European championships
last year.
They are all excited about the trip to America.
“I can’t wait for the American food,” says Gilligan. “Especially BBQ!”
Daly says he’s “over the moon” with excitement.
“I’m really excited to try an American milkshake and fries,” says Kinsella. “Are they different from Irish chips?”
Kinsella speaks for them all when she says this trip will be “a dream come true.”
AISHLING KINSELLA
Aishling Kinsella from Hollystown in Northwest Dublin. She’s a third-year student at University College Dublin, majoring in physics, focusing on astronomy and space science.
“I study physics and enjoy reading around the subject,” Aishling says. “My favorite fields are cosmology and astrophysics, nuclear physics, and quantum mechanics.”
And what will she do with this intriguing assortment of specialties?
“As for my future,” she says. “I’m currently town between doing further study in nuclear medicine (potentially Masters/PhD) for diagnostics and treatment of different diseases, and between studying medicine with the hope of working in nuclear medicine/radiology. Two different paths but hopefully I end up doing something that uses either/both nuclear physics and radiation physics for treating illnesses. I would like to try do both research and work in a hospital with patients etc.”
Her mom’s a midwife and her dad manages construction.
“I spent a lot of time with them when I was a kid so we’re all close,” she recalls. “My dad and I share a love of music and go to gigs together very frequently. Very excited to see the home town of REM in
Athens, GA! My mum and I spend a lot of our free time shopping and lunching together, and so we’re good friends. Big fans of them both overall!”
She’s developing a love of cooking.
“Have recently started learning to properly cook after learning how boil an egg at the frankly unreasonable age of 19,” says Aishling. “I now quite enjoy cooking and am looking forward to trying American food! Have I mentioned that already?”
She says her personality is “very clearly an only child.” She admits to being outspoken, with fits of Tweets and Facebook posts, but she’s not a member of a politically party youth group.
Aishling’s a very successful debater having reached octa-finals and semi-finals in her last two trips to the world championships. She earned top 10 speaker recognition at the European championships.
She loves to train debaters
“I am on the board for the Irish World Schools Team and help them train frequently,” she says.
What does she value most in life?
“Ronan’s dog Toby, friends and family, and good food,” she says. “I can’t wait for American BBQ.”
Message received, Aishling.
Aishling’s first trip to America was when she was a baby. Then she traveled to Orlando twice – and last year she spent some time in New York with her parents.
“My dad worked for a summer in Philadelphia as an ice cream man,” she says. “Which is very strange.”
She sees great value in debating across borders.
“We develop our thinking in line with those who we spend our time with,” she says. “We don’t even realize we have accepted something without questioning it. Meeting people from different countries and
having important conversations with them is the best way of challenging things which we think we know.”
DANIEL GILLIGAN
Daniel Gilligan, 21, is a third-year student at Trinity College Dublin. He is studying law and political science. Gilligan is headed towards a career as a lawyer, or perhaps in academics. Gilligan is from Dublin.Daniel has two brothers: David, 14, is “a keen bass guitarist and heavy metal maniac” while his brother Oisin, 19, is studying science in UCD.
“Oisin likes reading long books and, more importantly, making sure everyone knows he’s reading long books,” says Daniel.
Daniel’s mum is a doctor, a general practitioner. His father is a doctor in an accident and emergency department.
He describes himself as “a bit boring, but overall not too bad. That’s my guess anyway. I haven’t asked my friends, which I think is probably for the best.”
When it comes to free time, Daniel has a simple solution: X-Box!
“I have successfully won 23 NBA MVP awards, 3 soccer world cups, and 11 Super Bowls in X-Box sports games,” he says, proudly. “I put this down to a warrior spirit and having few friends.”
He’s willing to counsel new American friends, even on sports a bit foreign to him.
“If your college football team needs a hand,” he smiles, “I can offer them ruthless athleticism and a very, very loose understanding of the rules of American football gleaned almost entirely from the Adam Sandler film ‘The Longest Yard,’” Daniel says. “It’s a great movie, it must be said. Where is Adam Sandler these days?”
Daniel’s a champion debater, of course. In high school, he made semis and finals at the world championships. At the university level, he’s won the Irish National BP Championship, and has been in semis and quarters of the European championships.
Daniel has been to America twice.
Ronan says Ciaran used to debate and reached the final of the Irish Times in 2017, “in no small part due to significant amounts of coaching he and his partner received from his me, while I was still in secondary
school. Pretty funny I think.”
His describes his parents, Veronica and Kieran as “good people.” His mom works as a nurse and his dad is a website designer.
“They don’t really understand or like debating,” he says, “but they have watched many, many debates.”
What does he value most in life?
“Difficult question! Probably my dog.”
His personality?
“Electrifying.”
As for his hobbies and spare-time he’s “a big fan of watching bad stand-up comedy performed by students. Other than that, I like watching documentaries about sport, though never actually playing
sports.”
Is he politically active? “Thank God, no!”
He’s says debating across borders has “immense value.”
“Debating gives everyone a shot at expressing themselves on their own terms,” he says. “That’s a fantastic way to start relationships and get to know people.”
Ronan’s only been to America once.
“My parents, who are both originally from Cork, met in Chicago,” he says. “We went back there when I was 4 years old for one summer. Haven’t been back since!”
Like his tour partners, he’s sports a strong debating resume. He’s broken at more than 10 intervarsity competitions, and reached the quarterfinals at Oxford in 2017 and won the International Mace that year,
too.
Ronan was a top 15 speaker at the World championships in Bali in 2017.
“Once to San Francisco to see my uncle who lives there. I was very young but remember enjoying it,” he says. “I was in DC and NY last summer. Main thing I appreciated was NY Pizza, but also liked the MET and American positivity!”
He sees great values in students from different countries debating one another.
“Huge value – I always love to learn how other people think and what people value,” said Daniel. “I think talking with a room full of people about the world around us is a fantastic way to do that.”
He says he’s not politically active.
“I did join a certain prominent Irish political party’s youth wing (that shall remain nameless) because they opposed a tax on sugary drinks,” he says “The tax’s injustice was for a time my most fiercely held political belief.”
As for other deeply held values, Daniel keeps options open.
“I don’t know,” he says, “but I’m hoping by the end of this trip I’ll be able to say American BBQ.”
RONAN DALY
Ronan Daly, 19, is a second-year student from Trinity College, majoring in history and political science and eyeing a possible future as a historian. Daly hails from Cork, in southern Ireland.
His older brother Ciaran, 22, is in his final year of Mathematical Sciences in University College Cork.
Ciaran spends his spare time rock climbing or “causing trouble,” says brother Ronan.
Ronan says Ciaran used to debate and reached the final of the Irish Times in 2017,
“in no small part due to significant amounts of coaching he and his partner received from his me, while I was still in secondary school. Pretty funny I think.”
He describes his parents, Veronica and Kieran as “good people.” His mom works as a nurse and his dad is a website designer.
“They don’t really understand or like debating,” he says, “but they have watched many, many debates.”
What does he value most in life?
“Difficult question! Probably my dog.”
His personality?
“Electrifying.”
As for his hobbies and spare-time he’s “a big fan of watching bad stand-up comedy performed by students. Other than that, I like watching documentaries about sport, though never actually playing
sports.”
Is he politically active? “Thank God, no!”
He’s says debating across borders has “immense value.”
“Debating gives everyone a shot at expressing themselves on their own terms,” he says. “That’s a fantastic way to start relationships and get to know people.”
Ronan’s only been to America once.
“My parents, who are both originally from Cork, met in Chicago,” he says. “We went back there when I was 4 years old for one summer. Haven’t been back since!”
Like his tour partners, he’s sports a strong debating resume. He’s broken at more than 10 intervarsity competitions, and reached the quarterfinals at Oxford in 2017 and won the International Mace that year,
too.
Ronan was a top 15 speaker at the World championships in Bali in 2017.
Ireland -> Nashville, TN -> Lexington, KY -> Billings, MT ->Spokane, WA-> Bellingham, WA-> Athens, GA -> Clemson, SC -> Ireland
Departure from Dublin: Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Return to Dublin: Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Mar 20 – Mar 24 Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Mar 24 – Mar 28 Lexington, Kentucky
Mar 28– Mar 31 Billings, Montana
Mar 31 – Apr 4 Spokane, Washington
Apr 4– Apr 7 Bellingham, Washington
Apr 7 – Apr 10 Athens, Georgia (University of Georgia)
Apr 10 – Apr 16 Clemson, South Carolina (Clemson University)
Apr 17- Return to Ireland
Highlights…
MURFREESBORO: Ar. Wed. (20 th ), Thurs, Fri, Sat, Lv. Sun, (24 th ). Fly into Nashville. Host: Pat Richey, Murfreesboro, Tennessee; WalMart on Wednesday, Jack Daniels Distillery on Friday, and Nashville day on
Saturday with possible hockey game, tour of Grand Ole Opry or other country music event.
LEXINGTON: Ar. Sun, (24 th ), Mon, Tues, Wed, Lv. Thurs, (28 th ). Arrive by car. Host: Jeanette Winters, Lexington, Horses and bourbon distilleries. Visit Thoroughbred breeding farm.
BILLINGS: Ar. Thurs. (28 th ) Fri, Sat, Lv. Sun (31 st ) Fly into Logan International Airport, Billings, MT. Host: Shelby Jo Long, Rocky Mountain College. Yellowstone Mountains, Beartooth Range. Ranches and the animals of the West. Cowboys! Fly to Spokane.
SPOKANE: Ar. Sun. (31 st ), Mon., Tues, Wed, Lv. Thurs (4 th ). Fly into Spokane late Sunday afternoon or evening. Host: Mike Ingram, Whitworth University. Sightseeing, banquet, Irish pub. Leave around 8-9 a.m., flying into Seattle on Thursday.
BELLINGHAM: Ar. Thurs. (4 th ), Fri, Sat, Lv. Sun, (7 th ). Arrive in Seattle and then driven to Bellingham. Host: Travis Cram, Western Washington University. A public debate is planned for Friday. On Saturday, a day of glaciers and coastal rainforests and volcanoes. A trip to the Sea-to-Sky highway possibly. Leave, fly into Atlanta, GA.
ATHENS: Ar. Sun. (7 th ), Mon, Tues, Lv. Wed (10 th ). Fly into Atlanta, drive to Athens. Host: Bjørn Stillion Southard, University of Georgia. Monday, a Trip to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta, Tuesday, public debate, Wednesday, Bjørn drives from Athens to Clemson.
CLEMSON: Ar. Wed. (10 th ), Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, Lv. Tues, (16 th ). Arrive by car in Clemson. Host: Lindsey Dixon, Clemson University. NCAA Football champs. USUDC is also here. Leave, Fly out to Dublin.
Irish Tour of America, arranged by Pax Rhetorica Center for Global Dialogue