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Finals of students’ Gaelic debate              30/11/11

The draw which took place in Stornoway on Wednesday the 9th of November 2011 saw the Nicolson Institute picked from the debate cup to battle against Gairloch High School. In the second semi final of the evening, Millburn Academy from Inverness, who last year reached the final stage of the prestigious competition, debated against James Gillespie High School in their home town of Edinburgh.

Following the high standard of competition which took place in the preliminary stages of the BT Alba Debate 2011 at an Lanntair in Stornoway, the semi-finals were going to pose a tough challenge for the four teams competing for a place in the competition final, which is now in its 13th year.

The semi-final debates were held last night in the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. The Nicolson Institute team, comprising of 6th year pupil, Calum MacPhee, who returns to the competition for the second year, and 5th year pupil Annabel MacLennan, began proceedings debating for the motion, “It is ludicrous to spend money on looking fashionable”. Debating against the motion were two sisters from Gairloch who have Lewis connections, Anna & Ceitidh Alice Hulme. It was a welcome return for Anna who impressed in the preliminary stages of the competition two years ago. This was not going to be an easy victory for either team and certainly it proved to be difficult for the three judges to reach a decision. However, only one team could go through to the final and it was the Gairloch girls who had the edge in the eyes of the judges.

In the second and final debate of the evening, James Gillespie High School, comprising of Mairi MacPherson and Robbie MacLeod aimed to convince us ‘That the time has come to scrap the National Lottery’. Against the motion were Emily MacKinnon and Caitlin Smith of Inverness’ Millburn Academy. Both teams demonstrated excellent debating skills and both used humour as an effective tool. However, after much deliberation by the judges Millburn Academy emerged as the victorious side.

The final between Gairloch High School and Millburn Academy will be held in the Scottish Parliament this evening (Wed) and will be broadcast on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal from 8pm. As the final will take place on St Andrews Day the appropriate debate topic for will be: “The time has come for Scotland to develop a new image and move away from the old history, bagpipes and tartan.”