Laughture IS the best medicine

Last Thursday night, Oct 23rd saw a large audience gather in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow to see and support, representative speakers from all the Toastmasters Clubs in the North Cork Area as they battled it out in the Area Finals of the Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests.

The evening kicked off at the usual time of 8pm sharp with a welcome from the host club president, Ray Ryan. Topicsmaster, Helena O’Callaghan, from The Galtees Toastmasters Club kept the audience entertained between contests and Jerry Kelleher from Speak Easy was the Contest Chair.

After a topics session to “warm up the audience” the contests got under way with the contestants in the Topics Contest leading the way.
Representing, Fáilte Toastmasters in Charleville was Stephen McKeogh, Sean Roche from the Galtees in Mitchelstown. Dave Bartly was ably representing Fermoy Toastmasters and Ray Ryan was flying the flag for Speak Easy.

Each of the contestants spoke for two minutes on a holiday preference topic and when the judging scores were counted, Dave Bartley from Fermoy Toastmasters was declared the winner with Ray Ryan from Speak Easy in 2’nd place.

After the refreshment break, the moment had arrived for the Humorous Speech Contest and when the draw for positions was made, it was Donal Jones from Fáilte Toastmasters who had the honour of starting the ball rolling which he did by having the audience “in stitches” with his speech entitled “Reincarnation”.

As we were still laughing from Donal, Brian O’Farrell, from Fermoy Toastmasters, followed with offering entitled, “Not just for Christmas”. Now our sides were really beginning to ache. Just when we thought we could take no more, up to the lectern stepped Dick Lyons, representing the Galtees Toastmasters with his speech entitled, “A good nights sleep”.

Now the tears were coming as well as the sore sides when the final speaker of the evening approached the lectern in the form of Michael Cronin of Speak Easy with, “Feel the fear and blow it up anyway”. We were on a high after listening to the three previous speakers and Michael sure kept us there.

Did there have to be a winner we wondered, but alas there did, and when the scores were counted it was Michael Cronin from Speak Easy who took the laurels with Brian O’Farrell from Fermoy as runner up.

Both Dave Bartley and Michael Cronin will represent North Cork (Toastmasters Area 17) in the Division Final in the Vienna Woods hotel on Saturday, Nov. 1st at 8.00pm sharp.

It is said, and indeed, is a proven fact that laughter is the best medicine, so over 40 happy and healthy people left the Hibernian Hotel that night after a brilliant two hours fun and laughter
with all the participants having learned their speaking skills by being a member of a toastmasters club.

Why not come and see for yourself? We meet on alternate Thursdays in The Hibernian Hotel, Mallow and our next meeting is October 30th.
Looking forward to meeting you as our guest. (don’t worry, you won’t be asked to speak)

Further information on Speak Easy Toastmasters can be had from our website at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or contact our Club PRO, Sean on 086 6054784