[3] In 1980, he persuaded Coors Brewers to sponsor a debate tour of U.S. colleges for the winning team and individual speakers.
The format of the competition is now unique in third-level debating, combining team and individual roles.
[2] In that year, the judges nominated Kathleen Boyle to progress to the Observer Mace individual competition.
[6] Former winners in the legal field include Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland Donal O'Donnell, Supreme Court judge Adrian Hardiman, former Managing Partner and Chairman of Arthur Cox (law firm) Eugene McCague, High Court of Ireland judges David Holland (judge) and Cian Ferriter, Senior Counsels Paul Anthony McDermott, Rossa Fanning, John O'Donnell, Dermot Gleeson,[8] Aidan Browne,[8] and Gregory Murphy,[8] King's Counsel at Doughty Street Chambers, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, professors Conor Gearty, Kieran Healy and Charles Lysaght, and Circuit Court judges Esmond Smyth, Kevin O'Higgins,[8] and Brian Curtin.
James Connolly, winner in 1974, was Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland and recently chair of public inquiries in Dublin.
[34] Other well-known former winners include broadcasters Anthony Clare, Henry Kelly, Derek Davis, Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh,[8] and Marian Finucane; comedian Dara Ó Briain; and writers Eamonn McCann, Gerry Stembridge, Kevin Cahill.