(Pictured at the Concern Debates National Final 2013 at the City North Hotel were the Winners from Newbridge College Team Captain Grainne Carr with trophy)
Kildare Rose Gráinne Carr will feature on tonight's first televised broadcast of The Rose of Tralee competition 2018 as the televised finals kick off this week.
Concern Worldwide is today extending its best wishes to Rose of Tralee contestant and former All-Ireland Concern Debates champion Gráinne Carr who will this week represent Co Kildare in the annual Rose of Tralee contest, with more than 57 contestants in all having travelled from around the world to take part in the festival now in its 59th year.
The international aid agency is proud to have the Kildare Rose as a volunteer adjudicator for Concern Debates – a nationwide school debating contest that gives teenagers a platform to discuss global development issues.
Gráinne captained the winning Concern Debates team for Newbridge College in 2013 and, as part of their prize, travelled to see some of Concern’s life-changing development work in Ethiopia.
Concern’s Head of Active Citizenship, Michael Doorly, said: “Concern would like to wish Gráinne Carr, the Kildare Rose and former All-Ireland Concern Debates champion, the very best of luck in this year’s Rose of Tralee competition. Gráinne has been an exceptional ambassador and advocate for Concern’s work with some of world’s poorest people.”
Concern – which is marking its 50th anniversary this year – created Concern Debates in 1984 to challenge students to debate global development issues.
Any school interested in taking part in this year’s Concern Debates or any individual who would like to judge the debates in their local schools – just like Gráinne Carr – can email debates@concern.net.
The very best of luck to Gráinne tonight as the well-known show airs its first episode tonight from the Dome in Kerry at 8pm on RTE1, and the live finals will continue at the same time on Tuesday where the winner of 59th The Rose of Tralee 2018 will be announced.
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