PAST PUPIL VS PARENT DEBATE – THURSDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2013
Event details:
Coulson Theatre - Thursday, 26 September 2013, beginning with drinks and canapés at 6.30pm
Motion:
Immigration is good for Ireland
SPEAKER PROFILES
Proposing – Parents
Mr. Seán Finn
Mr. Seán Finn is a native of Dublin but spent much of his childhood living abroad. He is a past pupil
of Dominican College Newbridge; a Trinity College Economics graduate; and a Fellow of the Institute
of Chartered Accountants, Ireland. He holds a Diploma in Management from the Irish Management
Institute and is a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Seán has over thirteen years experience in the financial services industry with RBC Investor Services
Ireland. He was formerly an auditor with PriceWaterhouseCooper and Financial Controller and
Company Secretary at Jefferson Training. He is a past Chairman of the Leinster Society of Chartered
Accountants.
Married to Fiona McCormick Finn, their son Mark is in Fifth year and their daughter Laura is in Third
Year at Alexandra College. Three of Seán’s nephews benefitted from a Gonzaga education.
Ms. Monica Lawlor
Ms. Monica Lawlor is a graduate of Holy Faith Convent, Clontarf. She studied law at UCD (1986-1989)
and the Honorable Society of Kings Inns (1989-1991) and was called to the Bar in 1991.
Monica has a busy civil practice, mainly in the Circuit Court, particularly in the areas of family law,
personal injuries litigation and equity cases. She has been the assigned Prosecutor for Co. Cavan for 12
years acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In 2000 Monica was appointed as a Member of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal adjudicating on appeals
of refusals to grant refugee status at First Instance. She remained on the Tribunal for two years.
Shortly thereafter Monica began volunteering at the Jesuit Refugee Service based in Upper Sherrard
Street helping applicants with their paperwork for leave to remain in Ireland on humanitarian grounds,
advising women on domestic or family law and holdings talks on subjects such as family reunification.
Fr. Tom Layden S.J. nominated Monica to the Council of JRS in September 2011.
Monica is married to Felix McEnroy. They have three children - Patrick - Fifth Year, Felix - Second
Year and John Philip - aged 5 years.
Ms. Victoria White
Ms. Victoria White is a journalist and author. She worked for many years with The Irish Times and was
Arts Editor for a five-year period and now writes columns for The Herald and The Irish Examiner.
Victoria published a collection of short stories - Raving Autumn - in 1990 and a book examining
motherhood in Ireland - Mother Ireland (Londubh) - in 2010.
An activist for action against climate change Victoria is a founder member of Dublin Friends of the
Earth.
Victoria and her husband Éamon Ryan have a son, Jack, in Third Year.
Opposing – Past Pupils
Mr. Micheál O’Leary (1983)
Mr. Micheál O’Leary studied Agricultural Science at University College Dublin before travelling to
America on a J1 visa. He secured a job as a bartender at O'Reilly's Irish Pub, Manhattan and spent the
next few years moving frequently and learning about the hospitality industry. He lived and worked in
numerous cities throughout America before finally settling in Culver City. He lives there still with his
wife Susan, and their two dogs.
In 1999 Micheál bought a failing bar and restaurant and turned it into Joxer Daly's Irish Pub, still the
only Irish pub in Culver City. In 2011 he completed a similar turnaround with a Moorpark, California
bar, now Corrigan’s Irish Pub.
Micheál became the first Irish immigrant to be elected to Culver City Council in 2008 and in 2012 was
successfully re-elected to a second 4-year term as Mayor of Culver City. He is Chair of a number of
boards including the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and the Southern California
Association of Governments Transportation Committee.
Until recent years Micheál played Division 3 rugby, and he continues an amateur acting career at the
Celtic Arts Center in Los Angeles.
Dr. Stephen Ranalow (1997)
Dr. Stephen Ranalow is a partner at law firm Arthur Cox where he specialises in corporate law. He has
worked on a number of leading transactions such as the recapitalisation of the Bank of Ireland, the
examinership of Eircom and the IPO of Aer Lingus.
Stephen holds a law degree and a Ph.D. in law and economics from Trinity College Dublin. He was a
Trinity scholar.
A member of the Class of 1997, Stephen was Captain of the Gonzaga debating team in Fifth and Sixth
Year. He is also a former editor-in-chief of the Trinity College Law Review.
Stephen is currently President of the Ireland Spain Economic Association and a non-executive director
at the development charity Aidlink.
Mr. Garrett Sheehan (1964)
Mr. Garrett Sheehan attended preparatory and senior school (1954 - 1964) at Gonzaga College, playing
tennis and rugby at a high level and winning the Captain’s Cup on two occasions - 1962 and 1964.
He went on to study law at University College Dublin and the Law Society of Ireland qualifying as a
solicitor in 1968.
Garrett spent two years (1968- 1970) working in a voluntary capacity at St. Antony’s Industrial Institute
in Kadapa (formerly Cuddapah), India.
From 1970 - 2007 he worked as a solicitor in Dublin, establishing Garrett Sheehan & Partners, now
Sheehan & Partners.
In June 2007 Garrett was appointed Judge of the High Court.