Sunday, April 06, 2008

Saints and Rats

What does a rat, St. Patrick and JB Keane have in common? They were all the subject of speeches by Speak Easy Toastmasters last Thursday evening in the Hibernian Hotel.

What an enjoyable meeting we had as five members of the club delivered great speeches.

The meeting was as usual opened by President, Anne Buckley who welcomed everyone.

Pat Duggan who is also Toastmasters International Area Governor was Toastmaster for the evening.

Pat started the evening with a slightly different format, by introducing Topicsmaster, Ray Ryan Jnr who kept our “speaking off the cuff “ skills sharpened with his well though out topics.

Pat then introduced the speakers and the first to the lectern was Jean Sayers.

Jean who is a relatively new member to Speak Easy Toastmasters was delivering her second speech which was entitled, “The wearing of the Green”. A most fascinating story of St Patrick which was filled with facts of the Saint himself and the day of celebration.

Following Jean was Anne Buckley with a speech entitled, “Distant Memories”. Anne told us of meeting JB Keane himself and also the contribution he made to rural Ireland and its people through the medium of his plays, stories, poetry and song.

Next to the lectern was Mary Buckley whose speech project was from “Speciality Speeches” was “Receiving an Award”. Mary is a past President of Speak Easy is the Coordinator of the Inter Schools Public Speaking Competition.

Following Mary was Marie Fitzpatrick with a speech entitled, “Closure” which told of her hilarious student experiences with a rat who took up residence in her apartment.

And last but not least to the lectern was the club’s newest member, Nora Murphy, with her Icebreaker Speech. (the Icebreaker Speech is one in which the new member delivers first to a club).

The speech was entitled, “The Volunteer” in which she told us of her experiences and the effect that being a full time volunteer for a year had on her.

Other members on the program were Sean Corcoran, Timekeeper; Michael Cronin, Ah-Counter; Bridie O’Connell, General Evaluator; Sgt at Arms, Mary Moynahan and Evaluators, Angela Sheehan, Loretto Barry, Jerry Mulcahy, Liam Flynn and Pat Sexton.

The next meeting of Speak Easy Toastmasters will take place on April 17th and will be the club’s Tall Tales Contest. This is a contest were members vie to see who could in 3-5 minutes tell the tallest tale. It is an evening not to be missed as there are sure to be some fantastic yarns told.

So remember if you want to hear some “good ones” come along the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow on April 17th at 7.50 for an 8pm start.

Remember that guests are most welcome to attend our meetings and are never asked to speak so come along and relax.

Further information on Speak Easy Toastmasters can be had by visiting our website at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or contact our club PRO Sean on 086 6054784.

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