Arthur Cox trainees Ross O’Mahony and Aaron Vickery, representing the Solicitors’ Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland, won the Grand Final of the annual Irish Times Debate.

Nearly 300 students entered the competition and 12 contested the final, which Mr O’Mahony and Mr Vickery won after opposing the motion: “This house believes that 2016 should be the last year in which Ireland commemorates the Easter Rising.”

Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair, a final year Law and Philosophy student at UCD won the individual speaker competition. Ms Ní Chéileachair will be joining Arthur Cox as a trainee after graduation.

Caoimhe Stafford, who will be joining Arthur Cox as a trainee this summer, and Sarah Mortell from TCD Philosophical Society were runners up in the team event.

The Irish Times Debate has been running continuously since 1960 and is the oldest intervarsity debating competition in Ireland.

The winners were congratulated by the Law Society of Ireland.