University of Limerick Debating Union - Competition and Collaboration

Competition and Collaboration

The "Lit and Phil" and the "Parl Deb" operated separate societies but had some overlap in membership. While it was not uncommon for members from one to turn up at the other to heckle (in a good humoured way) rival speakers the relationship between the two societies was generally good. The Irish Times Debating Final of 1992-93 was hosted co-operatively between the societies. Where there remained substantial differences it was in the aims of the two organisations. The Lit & Phil put greater focus on weekly debates and on entertainment. They mixed house debates with more drama focused elements such as a version of "whose line is it anyway". The society met on Wednesday nights often in front of large crowds in the Jean Monnet theater. The Parl Deb met on Tuesday nights and focused mainly on a less crowd pleasing format of competitive debating. These attracted significantly smaller crowds and the society based itself in the smaller John Holland Theater. This difference in emphasis can be seen in participation in the 1993 World Debating Championships when the smaller society sent 2 teams (Derek Sheahan & John McElligott, Diarmuid Scully & Niamh Lyons) and a judge (Mark Dowling) to the championships while the larger society only sent one team (Matthew Hamilton & Hugh Gallagher).