The TCD winners of the university debating competition known as the John Smith Memorial Mace were presented with their awards by Prince Philip in Buckingham Palace yesterday, Rachel Donnelly reports from London.
Mr Alex Massie and Mr Matthew Magee, both TCD undergraduates, won the award for their contributions to a debate on the motion: "This house believes that liberalism is tearing the social fabric."
The winners of the English-speaking Union's Schools' Debating Competition, Mr Rami Okasha and Mr Donnchadh O Conaill, also received awards from Prince Philip. Mr Okasha, a former student at Colaiste an Spiorad Naomh in Cork, now studying at the University of Aberdeen, and Mr O Conaill, who is continuing his education at Colaiste an Spiorad Naomh, opposed the motion: "Britain should give up its colonies."