Rochestown College students win top UK debating title

TWO Cork teens have talked their way to the top and claimed a prestigious debating title in the UK.

Ronan Daly and Pádraic Malone from St Francis College in Rochestown won the International Schools Mace competition in London, beating the illustrious Eton College, which has produced 19 former UK prime ministers, in the final.

The competition brings together the champion debaters of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

Ronan and Pádraic took a break from their Leaving Cert preparations to take part in the competition, facing fierce debate and a difficult three-hour deliberation from the judges.

Ultimately, they were deemed unanimous winners by the five-person judging panel, making it the second year in a row that an Irish team has claimed the crown.