22 May

Last Thursday Night, May 15’th was one of two very special nights in the Speakeasy Toastmasters Club calendar. It was the night in which 5 members reached their Advanced Toastmaster Award. Toastmasters, Jerry Mulcahy, Micheál McMahon and Noel Ó’Connor, ATM-Bronze (ATM-B). Michael Cronin, ATM-Silver (ATM-S) and Elizabeth Ó’Brien, ATM-Gold (ATM-G).
President, Pat Sexton opened the meeting by welcoming the 40 members and guests and Introduced the Toastmaster for the night, John Murphy. It was John’s first time as Toastmaster and as he introduced himself and explained the function of his role and told us to think of him as “a best man at a wedding”. John introduced the other officers for the night, Topicsmaster, Angela Sheehan. General Evaluator, Joan Lenihan. Timekeeper, Mary Buckley and Sergeants At Arms, Kay Quirke and Elaine Ó’Donovan.
John then introduced the first speaker of the evening, Michael Walsh who was presenting a Stage 8 speech entitled “The Little Rose”. “There are three certainties in life”, began Michael, “we are born, we live and we die”. He then went on to outline his views on death, funerals etc with just the right blend of humour for such a sensitive subject and pointing out that people can spare the time to attend funerals and maybe it would be more beneficial to spend the same amount of time with the person when they were alive. Michael finished by reciting a poem called “The Little Rose” which began with the line “I would rather have a little rose from the garden of a friend, than to have the choicest flowers when my stay on earth must end”
Sean Corcoran evaluated Michael’s speech.
After Michael it was the turn of Jerry Mulcahy to take the lectern with a speech entitled “The Roots”. Jerry was speaking from the Speciality Speeches Manual, “Speaking Off The Cuff” in which he had to prepare and deliver an impromptu speech. Jerry had 5 speeches prepared for the night but was called to deliver just one which was chosen by Michael Donegan just seconds before he took the lectern. Jerry began by telling us the history of the “Allotment” which was a small piece of ground that families grew vegetables on and were issued just after the 2’nd World War. The people who worked these allotments became experts at managing the ground and also at waste management. Crops were harvested only when they were to be eaten and Jerry pointed out the differences between the fresh vegetables from the allotments and the dried and frozen vegetables that are sold today.
Michael Donegan evaluated Jerry’s speech.
“Pity The Poor Millionaire” was the title of Micheál McMahon’s speech which was a project from The Storytelling Manual, “The Moral Of The Story”, the aims of which were, to understand that a story can be entertaining and yet display moral values and to “create” a new story that offers a lesson or moral.
He told the story of Johnny Collins who was born in 1885 and was the youngest of 21 children, 16 of whom survived. He was reared by the 5 sisters who were the stair steps immediately ahead of him. These sisters kept Johnny wrapped in cotton wool and they were inseparable all their lives. Eventually Johnny was the only one left alive, rich but naïve to the ways of the world.
Kieran Buckley evaluated Micheál’s speech.
Topicsmaster Angela Sheehan then kept us both entertained and on our toes with her chosen topics.
“What annual televised event is a must for you?” she asked Deirdre Lenihan who had to speak unprepared for 2 minutes. “Was President, Mary McAleese, correct to air our dirty laundry in public” she asked Donal O’Leary. This topic also produced “add-ons” when Jerry O’Callaghan, Joan Lenihan, Micheál McMahon and Dermot Meaney all had their say on the subject. “Is it a good idea to introduce 3’rd level fees again?” was the topic that Ellen Broderick was asked. Ray Ryan and Pat Sexton had opinions on this one. On a subject that was aired on the Joe Duffy Show during the week, “What do you think of students going for foreign holidays after finishing their exams?” Was the question that Marie Fitzpatrick was asked which prompted an add-on by Joan Lenihan.
“Studies show that Irish people are becoming obese, what do you think what can be done about it” was the topic that Jeremiah Roynane was asked.
President, Pat Sexton presented certificates to Toastmasters, Jerry Mulcahy, Micheál McMahon and Noel Ó’Connor, ATM-Bronze (ATM-B). Michael Cronin, ATM-Silver (ATM-S) and Elizabeth Ó’Brien, ATM-Gold (ATM-G). Pat also made a presentation to Jeremiah Roynane to mark Jeremiah’s recent election to District 71 Governor. District 71 encompasses all Toastmasters Clubs in Ireland and Great Britain and the members of Speakeasy Toastmasters are both honoured and delighted that one of their fellow Club members has been elected to such a high profile position in Toastmasters International. Congratulations also to Speakeasy Members, Dermot Meaney who was appointed District 71 Secretary and Tony O’Regan who has been appointed District 71 Treasurer.
The next and final meeting of Speakeasy Toastmasters takes place on May 29’th in the Hibernian Hotel, Chapel Lane and will be the Club’s CTM Night.
As always, Guests/Members of the public are very welcome to attend Club meetings and will never be asked to speak. For further information on the Club contact Sean on 086 6054784 or Pat 087 2364240 or visit the Club’s Website at www.clix.to/speakeasy. Email, speakeasymallow@eircom.net