12 Feb

Speakeasy Toastmasters Mallow

Notes for 12th February, 2004

The meeting last Thursday evening began with a very entertaining speech by Michael Dineen entitled ‘Gone in 60 seconds’ which described how he left his ‘provisional’ behind and, with the help of a small blue ford tractor, managed to get a ‘full Irish’ driver’s licence. Now it might have been just an old small tractor but in many ways it showed the form of a true thoroughbred, especially in a runaway situation, where it was ‘gone in 60 seconds’. Michael’s speech was evaluated by Ray Ryan. Next up was Gerry Kelleher who shared with us the very heart-warming story of the life of ‘Kate Lynch’. Born in 1900, she experienced her fair share of loss and hard times early in life, but managed to maintain a very positive outlook on life and was wise enough to understand the important things in life. I think, last Thursday evening, we all could hear her hearty laugh, as it was described by Gerry. Eileen Corkery evaluated Gerry’s speech. Elizabeth O Brien used the wonderful words of the reading from scripture, which begins ‘Love is…’ to describe the patience, wisdom, kindness, thoughtfulness and unselfish nature of her late father. We heard about the love of her father for his family, for learning, for the land, and for life. Elizabeth’s speech was evaluated by Joan Lenihan. Michael Donegan gave a short speech in which he awarded a presentation. Now while the presentation was fictitious, Michael showed us how it should be done. This speech was evaluated by Pat Sexton. The final speech of the evening was delivered by Tony O’ Regan and was entitled, simply, ‘Helen’. This speech described another wonderful person, born in 1886, in North Cork this time. Helen suffered a series of very tragic losses before she finally immigrated to Chicago finding happiness and comfort there, having met and married a Limerick man. Helen lived to the great age of 99 but sadly she never returned to Ireland. Tony’s speech was evaluated by Vivienne Buckley.

Please join us at our next meeting on Thursday, 19th February. The meeting will start at 8:00 pm and we ask everyone to be at The Hibernian Hotel (Chapel Lane) at 7:50 pm.