Speak Easy Mallow Toastmasters Shine at October Meeting

J Marina Camarasa & P Corcoran

The Speak Easy Mallow Toastmasters hosted another engaging evening of speeches, storytelling, and laughter on October 30th, drawing members and guests to their regular meeting in Mallow Hibernian Hotel.

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Club President P Corcoran opened the meeting with a warm welcome and words of encouragement, noting the club’s continued energy as the calendar years nears it's close.

H Giles, P Corcoran & M Cronin

Taking charge as Toastmaster, M Cronin guided the evening with ease and good humour, ensuring a relaxed and friendly atmosphere throughout.

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Teamwork and a Touch of Poetry

Every meeting at Speak Easy Mallow is a team effort, and this one was no exception. H Giles led an entertaining Topics session, L Flynn kept everyone on track as Timekeeper, and R Liston provided overall insight as General Evaluator.

The literary highlight came from P Patton, who delighted the room with a lively reading of “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” by T.S. Eliot. Rounding off the support roles, P Gallagher served as Ah Counter and Grammarian, helping speakers stay sharp and polished.

P Patton

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Speeches that Moved and Motivated

The prepared speeches showcased the range of talent and creativity that Speak Easy Mallow is known for.

• Juan Marina Camarasa delivered his first speech - his Icebreaker speech, “An Introduction – About Me and Motorbikes”, sharing his story with humour and warmth. He was evaluated by P Corcoran.

J Marina Camarasa & R Liston

• James McConville entertained with “May Contain Small Parts”, a witty reflection on communication and IKEA construction, evaluated by B Buckley.

• P Sexton closed the segment with a thoughtful and powerful piece titled “Strange Fruit”, evaluated by M Lynes.

P Sexton

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Encouragement and Growth

Following a short tea break, members took to the floor once more for an impromptu table topics session, offering plenty of laughter and quick thinking. The meeting ended, as always, with evaluations and positive, constructive feedback.

Club President P Corcoran summed up the evening’s spirit, saying, “Every meeting reminds us why we come together – to learn, to laugh, and to lift each other up.”

B Buckley celebrating the club's status as a select distinguished club 2024/25

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Join the Next Meeting

Speak Easy Mallow Toastmasters continues to offer a welcoming space for anyone wishing to improve their confidence and communication skills in a supportive and social setting.

H Giles, M Lynes, B Buckley & P Sexton

Guests are always welcome at upcoming meetings. For more information about Toastmasters, visit the club’s Facebook page or come along to see what the Speak Easy experience is all about. Our next meeting is November 13th 2025 at 8pm in the Hibernian Hotel Mallow.

B Buckley

Stories, Straw & Spark: A Night of Inspiration at Mallow Toastmasters

As the evenings draw in and the year moves swiftly along, P Corcoran, our ever-enthusiastic President, opened last week’s meeting with warm housekeeping notes and a reminder that the club year is flying by. He encouraged members to step forward and fill the agenda — so if you have a speech ready to share, be sure to speak with our VPE, M O’Regan.

Our Toastmaster of the evening, M Fitzpatrick, guided us seamlessly through a lively and well-balanced agenda, while B Buckley, as Topicsmaster, kept everyone on their toes with a fun and thought-provoking impromptu speaking session. H Giles kept us all on schedule as the diligent Timekeeper, ensuring a smooth flow from start to finish.

The evening began on a creative note with C O’Connell, our Poet for the night, who delighted the audience with her own beautiful composition “Angel Maid.”

Speeches That Inspired and Entertained

The first speech of the evening came from M O’Donnell, delivering her icebreaker, “Travel… A Beginner’s Mind.” It was an inspiring reflection on the openness and curiosity that travel can spark — an excellent introductory speech aptly evaluated by P Corcoran.

Next, L Flynn transported us through time with “Strawing,” a fascinating exploration of how straw has woven its way through Irish storytelling and tradition. N O’Connor offered thoughtful and encouraging feedback on this rich historical topic.

Our final prepared speech came from M Cronin, who entertained with “Are You Indecisive?… I Am Not Sure.” The humour and relatability of his delivery kept everyone smiling, and T O’Sullivan provided a succinct and supportive evaluation.

The meeting wrapped up with a comprehensive general evaluation from P Gallagher, who highlighted the evening’s strong structure, enthusiasm, and engagement from all participants.

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Looking Ahead — Upcoming Meeting (October 30th, 2025)

Next week promises another fantastic evening of speeches and creativity. We’ll enjoy 4 speeches on the night:

1. C O’Connell – 6-minute speech evaluated by B Buckley

2. H Giles – evaluated by P Corcoran

3. P Sexton – evaluated by M Lynes

4. J McConville - evaluated by Marie Fitzpatrick

It’s shaping up to be another inspiring meeting filled with learning, laughter, and connection — a reminder of what makes our Toastmasters community so special.

If you’ve been thinking about stepping up to the lectern, now’s the time. Do you have a wedding speech or work commitment to practice for? Practising English? Toastmasters might just be the place for you!

Join us as a guest this coming Thursday (30th October) in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow at 8pm (entrance fee €7 for room cover). See you there!