Created in 1990, the Joutes Oratoires Interscolaires aim to bring together teachers and students from various Secondary Schools around a shared passion: the French language. This flagship event highlights the eloquence of young students across Ireland. Since its inception, nearly 3,500 students have taken part in this prestigious competition!

The concept is simple: allowing French students from different schools to meet and debate, in French, on a variety of topics.

To learn more about the participation requirements and start preparing your students, we invite you to consult the official rules:

For more information, contact Lisa Le Bras exams@alliance-francaise.ie / (01) 638 14 49

In 2025, and to mark its 35th anniversary, the Joutes Oratoires are returming with an all-new format!

The 2024-2025 Debating Competition rallied this year over 30 Secondary Schools from all over Ireland.

For the last leg of the Joutes Oratoires 2024-25, 8 finalist schools will compete against each others in quarter finals, semi finals and finals on Monday 10th March:

Holy Faith Secondary School Clontarf, Coláiste Íosagáin, Saint Conleth’s College, Muckross Park College, Loreto College St. Stephen’s Green, Tullamore College, Christ King Girls’ Secondary School, and Saint Columba’s College.

In between competitions, many activities are planned to mingle throughout the day: quizzes, speech dating, games…

At 6pm, the 16 Secondary Schools from all over Ireland which participated in the 1st Round will gather for the big Finale.

Que le meilleur gagne!

The 2023-2024 Debating Competition rallied this year over 30 Secondary Schools from all over Ireland.

The motion for the 2024 Quarter Finals was La vie privée devrait rester privée. Congratulations to the winners!

Belvedere College Vs. Holy Child Killiney

Athlone Community College Vs. Coláiste Íosagáin

Heywood Community School Vs. Loreto College.

Gonzaga College SJ Vs Tullamore College

The motion for the 2024 Semi-Finals will be La cohésion sociale disparait en Irlande. Semi-Finals are for the first time open to general public. Make sure to book well in advance!

Loretto College Vs Tullamore College

Belvedere College Vs. Coláiste Íosagáin

The battle of wits will finally come to an end with the two finalist teams competing at the French Library on the motion “La vie est belle”

Belvedere College Vs. Tullamore College

The motion for the 2023 Semifinals is La vie en milieu rural n’est plus viable

Belvedere College Vs. Coláiste Iosagáin

Gonzaga College Vs. Tullamore College

The battle of wits will finally come to an end with the two finalist teams competing at the French Library on the motion: Les valeurs sportives ne sont pas au premier plan dans les sports de haut niveau

Belvedere College Vs. Tullamore College