First round draw announced for BT Alba debate 2010

Plans are now well underway for the 2010 BT Scotland National Schools Gaelic Debate.

The first two rounds will be held in An Lanntair in Stornoway on Tuesday the 2^nd of November and Wednesday the 3rd of November 2010.

Twenty teams from eighteen schools from across Scotland will compete in the competition with four schools going through to the semi-finals and finals which will be held in Edinburgh on Tuesday and Wednesday the 23^rd and 24^th of November 2010.

In the second round, the ten teams who successfully won their Debates in the first round will debate the same topic with the four teams with the highest points progressing to the semi-finals in Edinburgh at the end of November.  The draw for Round 1 is as follows:

Glasgow Gaelic School V Nicolson Institute B

Millburn Academy V James Gillespie A

Sgoil Lionacleit V James Gillespie B

Dingwall Academy V Nicolson Institute A

Hazlehead Academy V Calderglen High School

Wallace High School V Charleston Academy

Inverness Royal Academy V Bishopbriggs Academy

Islay High School V Portree High School

Sir E Scott V Tiree High School

Castlebay Community School V Tain Royal Academy

“ Gaelic debate “

Calum Iain Macleod, Director of Development at Comunn na Gàidhlig, and Chairman of the National Gaelic Schools’ Debate Management Committee said:

“I am particularly looking forward to the 2010 BT Alba Debate.  2009 was another great year and the participants brought the competition to a new level.  It is particularly pleasing to note that three new schools enter the competition for the first time – Tiree High School, Inverness Royal Academy and WallaceAcademy from Stirling.  The Committee would like to welcome them to the 2010 Debate and trust they all have an enjoyable and beneficial experience.  The BT Gaelic Debate continues to give Gaelic-speaking secondary school pupils throughout Scotland the opportunity to come together and develop their debating and communication skills – skills which will be beneficial to them in later years”.

BT Scotland Director Brendan Dick added:

“BT Scotland has supported the schools Gaelic debate for the past 12 years as an incentive to encourage more youngsters to speak the language. I wish all the participants the very best in the competition and I am particularly pleased to note that three schools are taking part for the first time this year.”

More information on the BT Gaelic Debate can found on the Debate’s website at www.deasbadbtalba.com.

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