Trinity College Dublin Students Win Prestigious Irish Times Debate

Anya Wilson and Athena Wu of Trinity College Dublin’s Historical Society (Hist) have been crowned the winning team of the 66th Irish Times Debate final, Ireland’s longest-running third-level debating competition. The final took place at Dublin City University on Friday evening, February 27, 2026.

Debate Motion and Competition Details

The motion debated at the final was: “This house believes the United Nations has had its day.” A total of 140 teams, representing 280 third-level students, participated in the competition, which began last autumn. The event featured a dozen speakers in the final round.

Individual Awards and Recognition

Cian Carew of the Solicitor’s Apprentices Debating Society (SADSI) was awarded the individual speaker’s prize. Tara Kennedy and Joyce O’Sullivan from University College Cork (UCC) Law Society were named the runner-up team, even as Christina Mohan of King’s Inns was the runner-up individual speaker.

Praise for the Debaters and the Competition

Human rights barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who chaired the debate and herself won the team award representing University College Dublin (UCD) in 1999, praised the high standard of debate. She highlighted Ireland’s significant contribution to the United Nations, noting the country has a disproportionately large number of special rapporteurs working for the organization. Irish Times editor Ruadhán Mac Cormaic expressed optimism about the future, stating the quality of debate demonstrated a hopeful outlook for the current generation of students.

Prizes and Future Opportunities

The winning team, Wilson and Wu, and the individual winner, Carew, will embark on an all-expenses-paid tour of the United States. They competed for the Demosthenes Trophy (for the best team) and the Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy (for the best individual).

Historical Significance

Barrister and historian Charles Lysaght, the winner of the inaugural competition in 1960, attended the final and described it as the “highlight of my life.”