St. Gerald’s DLS College has a strong tradition in Irish Debating at both Junior and Senior Level. The Senior team reached the Regional Finals of ‘Comórtas an Phiarsaigh’, the Gael-Linn Debating Competition, in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
In 2016, the Senior team reached the All-Ireland Final of the competition, followed by the Junior team in 2017.
History was made in 2018, when both the Junior and Senior teams reached the All-Ireland Final and the Senior team were crowned All-Ireland Champions. Contesting the Senior Final along with Ilia Marcev, Cormac Joyce and Dara Ludden from St. Gerald’s DLS College, were teams from Sandford Park, Dublin, Scoil Áine, Tipperary Town and De La Salle College, Dundalk.
The motion up for discussion was "Tá mórchúiseanna gearáin ag mná na tíre seo (26 contae)" (The women of this country -26 counties- have good reason to complain!). The standard was excellent, with plenty of point-scoring and rebuttal throughout. In the end, it was St Gerald’s who lifted the cup. They were also presented with a cheque for €1000 and a part Gaeltacht scholarship to a Gael-Linn Summer College.
St Gerald’s Junior Debating team also participated in the Gael-Linn final. Students, Cathal O’Shea, Conall Mac Gabhann and John Maguire represented the school very well but were pipped at the post by the team from Thurles. The Junior team were presented with a cheque for €250 and a part Gaeltacht scholarship. With over 150 teams taking part in the competition which starts in October each year, this is a marvellous achievement for St Gerald’s.