Soapbox Competition

We were delighted to see Jack representing the school at this year’s Europe Direct Soapbox Competition tonight.

The competition drew a fantastic crowd and saw a large number of students from across Laois and Carlow take to the stage to debate this year’s controversial motion: “Likes, Lies and Legal Limits: Is it time the EU banned social media for under-16s?”

Jack opposed the motion and delivered a confident, well-structured speech that impressed the audience. He argued that social media, when used responsibly, helps families stay connected across borders, strengthens friendships between people in different places, and can even be a reliable source of information through trusted, verified accounts. He also highlighted that restricting access to social media might only push young people toward unsafe or unregulated platforms instead.

A big thank you to our hosts, Portlaoise Library, for such a well run event. Also, a big well done to Jack who spoke with confidence in front of such a large group!