'Sex is better with the lights off!'
That statement might have you thinking that this is a blog post far removed from the JCI World Debating Championships but, it is in fact the motion in the final of the first debating championship I ever won.
It was an early morning in March 2014, when on the journey from Mayo to Dublin, I swore that I was just going to take it all in and would under no circumstances be taking part! Public speaking after all, is the scariest thing ever, right?
Fast forward a couple of hours and a lot of peer pressure from Dr Adrian Corcoran and there I am, part of the winning team taking home the national debating shield. Very surreal! The practice topics were easy, 'dogs make better pets than cats' but the final topic of 'sex is better with the lights off' was pretty embarrassing, but liberating to argue in front of 50+ people. The event was Spring Conference hosted by JCI Dublin and this event is on the JCI Calendar every year. It is a great chance to get some basic training in debating and chance your arm on a team.
The next step in my debating career was taking a part on the Mayo team that competed for the Tripartite cup (UK, Scotland & Ireland). We took out the UK with points of information such as; 'Mc Flurries weren't invented when you were a child'. Alas, we were beaten by Scotland, even though we made classy points such as 'our national President had to leave the room he is so offended by the motion, that if carried years ago would mean he would not even exist'. I'll leave you guessing as to what those two motions were.
After that, I was selected to join the JCI Ireland debating team for the World Congress in Leipzig Germany in November 2014. I was also honoured to be invited by JCI Secretary General Arrey Obenson to host the JCI Morning Show for three mornings. His colleague Sara had seen me debate in Ireland and she passed on her recommendations (you never know who is watching and what opportunities will come knocking).
Morning show was all about raising the energy levels of the delegates first thing, whilst letting them know the theme & agenda for the conference that day. I had a jam packed schedule, with scripts to read through and debate practice to do and I don't think I have ever been as nervous in my life. You can see from the picturess, we had great support. Unfortunately we lost out in the first round (again to JCI Scotland, who went on to win the entire competition).
After receiving feedback from the judges, we realised it was in the technical scores we were falling down. It was time to get serious about the rules and get some expert training in the form of Máire Garvey from Westport Toastmasters. We figured out we were losing simple points for not linking our team e.g 'as my colleague Adrian has already pointed out' and for not stating and restating the motion every time e.g. 'we implore you to join with us in opposing this ridiculous motion that....'.
I was JCI Mayo Local President for 2015, and when March rolled around, I jumped at the chance for us to host JCI Ireland's Spring Conference. I was delighted to have the opportunity to try and encourage other members to jump in and 'Accept the Challenge' (my theme for the year). It also gave me a view from the other side. I had to work out the timetable, organise judges, motions, teams and set up etc. This knowledge would stand to me in the following months and years as a debate chair and trainer. I was so proud when the Mayo team of Adrian, Karen and Deborah won and kept the national shield in Mayo for a second year running.
Next stop was Istanbul, Turkey for the 2015 European Conference. I was lucky enough to again be selected for the Irish team under captain Brian Smyth and alongside team mate Laura Enache. We got through two rounds which brought us to the European final, but unfortunately we came in second place against the Latvians. So close, but just not close enough!
Now it gets exciting! Myself, Sara and Adrian put in some serious practice for the JCI European Conference in Tempera, Finland in June 2016. We were ready and confident! First topic up was 'Women are Better on Top'; thanks JCI- ready to mortify myself once again! We were defining the motion and as everyone in the audience was excited by the motion, with thought we better stick sex in there somewhere. We defined the motion as 'women are better on top in the bedroom and the boardroom'. After lots of interesting points and stating made up studies from FHM and the sex university, we emerged victorious! We got through the quarter finals and semifinals to meet our dear old rivals JCI Scotland in the final. The motion pulled out was 'Peace is Possible', and to our dismay in the coin toss we were told we were opposing. The JCI World President's big initiative for 2016 was the 'Peace is Possible' campaign and I was the current 'Peace is Possible' Director for JCI Ireland. This was going to be a hard battle to win. We had a lot of laughs and a lot of points of information. When it was all over we had to wait over night for the winner to be announced at the gala awards. We heard JCI Ireland get called out and we ran to the stage with music blaring and all of JCI Ireland members going crazy. After a quick apology to World President Paschal that we had torn his campaign to shreds, 😉😉😉 we accepted our trophies and tried to catch our breath.
We got the potential motions a couple of days before the big day, we sat as a team and came up with the possible ways we could re-define the motions and 3 main points for and against. We practiced the rules and taking points of information from each other. The morning of the debate we put on our 'debating uniform', practiced again as a team and took a lot of deep breaths.
Quarter Final- Ireland proposing against Canada. Motion- There should be a ban on mainstream music that glorifies violence
Our tried and tested preparation sheets and prompts to each other to watch protected time and pulling out our 'secret weapon' during each debate meant that we finished the day truly exhausted but happy with our effort. The long wait until the Awards Ceremony commenced.
After missing my Grandfather's funeral, I wanted to come back with the trophy to make him and the rest of the family really proud. They sure did drag it out, but then we heard JCI Ireland getting called out as the winners. I don't remember walking to the stage, but I do remember the feeling afterwards being the most proud I have felt in my life. Its amazing to win, but its more amazing to win with an awesome team knowing you prepared well.
I was JCI Mayo Local President for 2015, and when March rolled around, I jumped at the chance for us to host JCI Ireland's Spring Conference. I was delighted to have the opportunity to try and encourage other members to jump in and 'Accept the Challenge' (my theme for the year). It also gave me a view from the other side. I had to work out the timetable, organise judges, motions, teams and set up etc. This knowledge would stand to me in the following months and years as a debate chair and trainer. I was so proud when the Mayo team of Adrian, Karen and Deborah won and kept the national shield in Mayo for a second year running.
In October 2015, I was asked to be Chair of the Tripartite Debate at the Irish National Convention in Donegal. I was nervous as this would be my first MC gig where I had no script and lots of breaks to fill in between competitions. My experience was standing to me at this stage though, I was confident of the setup, rules and how to run a debate. I was also getting used to thinking on my feet.
It's important to note the next step on the journey was delivering debate training to JCI Galway alongside Adrian. This was in one sense sharpening our enemies sword given that JCI Galway 'snatched' the national shield off Mayo at Spring Conference March 2016 in Cork (while Adrian and myself were chairing). However, in the other sense it was sharpening our own sword as this was where Sara Gilligan got her own first taste of debating. Sara would later go on to join myself and Adrian on the Irish team. Myself and Adrian made sure to get a photo with the JCI Galway winning team, after all it was thanks to us they had won, right? 😉😉😉
Now it gets exciting! Myself, Sara and Adrian put in some serious practice for the JCI European Conference in Tempera, Finland in June 2016. We were ready and confident! First topic up was 'Women are Better on Top'; thanks JCI- ready to mortify myself once again! We were defining the motion and as everyone in the audience was excited by the motion, with thought we better stick sex in there somewhere. We defined the motion as 'women are better on top in the bedroom and the boardroom'. After lots of interesting points and stating made up studies from FHM and the sex university, we emerged victorious! We got through the quarter finals and semifinals to meet our dear old rivals JCI Scotland in the final. The motion pulled out was 'Peace is Possible', and to our dismay in the coin toss we were told we were opposing. The JCI World President's big initiative for 2016 was the 'Peace is Possible' campaign and I was the current 'Peace is Possible' Director for JCI Ireland. This was going to be a hard battle to win. We had a lot of laughs and a lot of points of information. When it was all over we had to wait over night for the winner to be announced at the gala awards. We heard JCI Ireland get called out and we ran to the stage with music blaring and all of JCI Ireland members going crazy. After a quick apology to World President Paschal that we had torn his campaign to shreds, 😉😉😉 we accepted our trophies and tried to catch our breath.
When we caught our breath and got back on Irish soil, we were determined to go after the World title. Flights to Canada were booked and we were all set. Between June and November, myself and Adrian went back to Galway to deliver more debate training where we gave the bug to the NUIG Entrepreneurs society. We were also invited to JCI Oslo in Norway to deliver a two day debate academy there, they have gone on to be successful at a European & World level and we have remained connected ever since). The final stop was on to Irish National Convention in Galway, a week before Canada to try and defeat UK and Scotland for the Tripartite cup! Topics this time were light hearted e.g. 'men are objectified more than women' After two serious battles, (in the form of witty points of information and a lot of inside jokes), Ireland reigned supreme. Could we get three in a row?
The pressure was really on for us to bring home the World title in Canada. We were being called the team to beat! I had made the decision to stay in Canada and miss my Grandfather's funeral. We knew there would need to be a new team next year. So it was now or never!
We got the potential motions a couple of days before the big day, we sat as a team and came up with the possible ways we could re-define the motions and 3 main points for and against. We practiced the rules and taking points of information from each other. The morning of the debate we put on our 'debating uniform', practiced again as a team and took a lot of deep breaths.
We had huge support from the beginning to the end of the day, both in the room with flags and loud cheers and online as the debates were streamed live to our friends and family around the globe, (again no pressure).
Quarter Final- Ireland proposing against Canada. Motion- There should be a ban on mainstream music that glorifies violence
Semi Final- Ireland proposing against Philippines. Motion- Conferences should be held online rather than onsite (we narrowed this to JCI Area Conferences).
Final- West Indies proposing against Ireland. Motion- Freedom of speech should include the right to offend.
All three debates were lively and a lot of fun was had. At times, it can be difficult to say things you wouldn't dream of saying in everyday life and getting the vibe right between offending and debating is sometimes tricky.
I can honestly say sitting in that audience was one of the most nervous I have ever been. I so wanted to win for myself, for my team, for our President Brian, for the delegation that had supported us and for all those that were at home staying up to hear the result.
We returned to a champagne reception in Ireland and tonnes and tonnes of well wishes.
Thank you so much to my captain Adrian and team mate Sara, it was such an incredible journey to share with you. Brian our President; your guidance and support was appreciated all the way. Máire- your training was invaluable. JCI Ireland and its members for the opportunity and outstanding support. The JCI Ireland Senate for funding my Congress registration. My Dad and family for support and putting on a lovely spread on our return.
To any of you who have read as far as here, if you get the opportunity to debate- DO IT! In fact if you get the opportunity to do anything- #ACCEPTTHECHALLENGE
2021 Update : Since writing this blog debating has still been a huge part of my life. I have been to Malta twice to deliver debate training. I have been back to Galway to train and I am part of the training team leading the upcoming debate academy hosted by JCI Scotland.
I have helped coach JCI Ireland to two more World successes in 2017 with Ronan, Emma & Dana and in 2019, where I was lucky enough to stand on stage with Ben, Tara & Paddy as JCI Ireland National President . 
The 2021 JCI Ireland Spring Conference is coming up and I am so honoured to be leading the training and the championship and I have updated this blog to encourage all those tempted to just say yes!
Accept The Challenge!
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