Page 47 - The Gonzaga Record 1994
P. 47
F. O'Higgins (Auditor), Mr Laurence Duffy (President), S. Fennelly (Secretary)
Since his assumption of the oratorical orb that ‘Small men cast long shadows in the
and sceptre which Mr Cusack made his setting sun’. This historic victory proved
own. no Gonzaga team had won a debate the high point in a year notable for its
(even an internal one). President Lawrence bottomless pit-falls.
Duffy had to preside over debating which Most egregious of these was a ‘debate’
had plunged from the dizzying against Mt Anville, in the first of which it
stratospheric heights of intellectual (and. transpired that both teams had prepared
quite probably, moral) excellence to new speeches for the same side of the motion.
murky recesses of stagnation and lassitude. Three teams were entered in the ESB
Where Gonzaga debates, as they had been Inter Schools Debating Competition (or
proud to call themselves, had once walked ‘ESBSDC’ as it’s affectionately known),
with noses held high, a brilliant crystal Ronan McCrea getting through to the
wittiness ever on the lips, our speakers semi-finals, while John Feeney and I were
now stooped and bowed their heads and humiliated in the second round at the
dribbled platitudes over their weak hands of a gentleman from St Michael’s.
receding chins. Unfortunately, there was no Staff vs.
The age of gods and heroes, it seemed, Pupils debate this year.
had passed, and a black and evil-smelling Most notable among this year’s speakers
cloud hung over An Chomhdail. were Daniel Fennelly, who managed to
Then, like a fresh clean zephyr or a raise the Muckross-Gonzaga Impromptu
bright crashing torrent, there came, to Balloon Debate from the morass to a
freshen and revive our most sensitive parts, higher level of art and philosophy; Paul
something that happens perhaps once in O’Connell, whose laconic dead-pan style
the lifetime of a galaxy. Led by Brian has won him the love and respect of
Horkan and Daniel Fennelly, the wry millions; Comhdail stalwart Timothy
observational unit of the one and the O’Higgins’ subtle yet sinuous artistry; and,
surreal stream-of-conscious of the other of course, Mr Duffy himself, without
complementing each other like a box of whose charm, wit and irrepressible
Crayola Anti-Dust and a Cashel Irish Blue, buoyancy. An Chomhdail would be little
Gonzaga College SJ actually won a debate, more than a debating society.
disproving the farcical claim by Muckross Fintan O'Higgins (Senior 6)
39
Since his assumption of the oratorical orb that ‘Small men cast long shadows in the
and sceptre which Mr Cusack made his setting sun’. This historic victory proved
own. no Gonzaga team had won a debate the high point in a year notable for its
(even an internal one). President Lawrence bottomless pit-falls.
Duffy had to preside over debating which Most egregious of these was a ‘debate’
had plunged from the dizzying against Mt Anville, in the first of which it
stratospheric heights of intellectual (and. transpired that both teams had prepared
quite probably, moral) excellence to new speeches for the same side of the motion.
murky recesses of stagnation and lassitude. Three teams were entered in the ESB
Where Gonzaga debates, as they had been Inter Schools Debating Competition (or
proud to call themselves, had once walked ‘ESBSDC’ as it’s affectionately known),
with noses held high, a brilliant crystal Ronan McCrea getting through to the
wittiness ever on the lips, our speakers semi-finals, while John Feeney and I were
now stooped and bowed their heads and humiliated in the second round at the
dribbled platitudes over their weak hands of a gentleman from St Michael’s.
receding chins. Unfortunately, there was no Staff vs.
The age of gods and heroes, it seemed, Pupils debate this year.
had passed, and a black and evil-smelling Most notable among this year’s speakers
cloud hung over An Chomhdail. were Daniel Fennelly, who managed to
Then, like a fresh clean zephyr or a raise the Muckross-Gonzaga Impromptu
bright crashing torrent, there came, to Balloon Debate from the morass to a
freshen and revive our most sensitive parts, higher level of art and philosophy; Paul
something that happens perhaps once in O’Connell, whose laconic dead-pan style
the lifetime of a galaxy. Led by Brian has won him the love and respect of
Horkan and Daniel Fennelly, the wry millions; Comhdail stalwart Timothy
observational unit of the one and the O’Higgins’ subtle yet sinuous artistry; and,
surreal stream-of-conscious of the other of course, Mr Duffy himself, without
complementing each other like a box of whose charm, wit and irrepressible
Crayola Anti-Dust and a Cashel Irish Blue, buoyancy. An Chomhdail would be little
Gonzaga College SJ actually won a debate, more than a debating society.
disproving the farcical claim by Muckross Fintan O'Higgins (Senior 6)
39
