The school maintains a proud tradition of Public Speaking and engages with numerous competitions each year in this area, believing that this outlet offers our girls a wonderful opportunity to find their voice and develop confidence at the same time. Below are just some of the competitions we take part in annually.
Irish Public Speaking
Each year there is a team auditioned to participate in the Gael Linn competitions known as Cómortas na Phiarsaigh. In recent years there has been great success for our school as students have reached semi-final and All Ireland final levels. Katie Healy was successful in reaching the semi-final with an excellent speech on the seanfhocail ‘Ní Neart go cur le ChChéile', we find strength in unity.
ARTiculate
The ARTiculation Prize is a national arts public speaking competition for young people aged between 16 and 19. Students are invited to each deliver a ten-minute presentation to an audience about a work of art, architecture or an artefact of their choice. The school has enjoyed huge success in this in recent years, most recently with Megan Boland winning National Honours in 2021 and Hannah Murphy, placing second in the National Final in 2023.
Knights of Columbanus
In 2014 the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus, to celebrate their centenary in 2015, organised a public speaking competition entitled “Young People Find Language for their Faith” for students in Transition year or 5th and 6th Years in Ireland. The one-off competition was so successful it has become an annual event in the school calendar, and is one we eagerly anticipate here in UCT, entering annually.
Soroptomist
This girls' Public Speaking Competition was established in 1981, jointly, by Soroptimist President Republic of Ireland, Mildred O’ Brien, and Soroptimist President, Northern Ireland, Marie Brownlee. The competition aims to encourage girls to play a more prominent part in public life and to improve the art of communication and to encourage girls to develop the skill to speak effectively and to articulate with clarity. The topics discussed are always engaging and worthwhile and our girls really enjoy taking part.