A crowd is not company’

Speak Easy Toastmaster’s meeting on April 7th 2011 was another in which guests and members enjoyed themselves. The club was holding The Area 17 Finals of the International Speech and Evaluation Contests.

Joining President Margaret O’ Regan at the top table was Ray Ryan, Contest Chair and Johanna Hegarty who was Topicsmaster.

First to the lectern was Michael Cronin (Speak Easy Toastmasters, Mallow) with a speech entitled ‘Heroes’. Michael’s speech was thought provoking. He reminded us that there are heroes all around us, including those who care for the sick and look after the less privileged. He concluded his speech by reminding the audience that ‘we are all ordinary people but capable of doing extraordinary things’.

Following Michael was Dick Lyons (The Galtees Toastmasters, Mitchelstown) with a speech entitled ‘Free at last’. Dick recounted in a very humorous manner the impact of acquiring a family dog and what he learned from the experience. He ended his speech with a quotation from John O’ Donoghue, author of ‘Anam Cara’; ‘the forgiving heart knows the art of liberation.

Dick was followed by Colette Noonan (The Failte Toastmasters, Charleville) with a speech entitled ‘The spirit of Granuaile’. Colette recounted a documentary she heard on the radio as she traveled home from a funeral one evening. The documentary detailed how one particular Dublin rowing group was founded. This rowing group was set up by 3 women who suffered from cancer. She compared the spirit of these women together with that of the lady whose funeral she had attended to the spirit of Granuaile which is still alive and well in these women.

Finally it was the turn of Kevin Walsh (Fermoy Toastmaster’s Club) with a speech entitled ‘A crowd is not company’. During his speech Kevin spoke about loneliness, the impact that it can have on peoples’ lives and gave the audience examples of how people can overcome it through for example reading and observing nature. Kevin concluded his speech with a thought provoking statement ‘Every stranger is a friend that you have not met. If we embrace each other in harmony and closeness the world is your oyster and we will never walk alone’.

Kevin Walsh (Fermoy Toastmaster’s Club) won the speech contest and Dick Roche (The Galtees Toastmaster’s Club, Mitchelstown) was runner up.


Following the speech contest Ken Armstrong (Killarney Toastmaster’s Club), test speaker, gave a very inspirational speech entitled ‘Why are we here?’ which gave reasons as to why people join toastmasters. This speech was the speech which was used in the evaluation contest.

There were four evaluation contestants- Frances Lowry (Failte Toastmaster’s Club, Charleville); Pat Sexton (Speak Easy Toastmasters Club, Mallow); Fanahan Colbert (Fermoy Toastmaster’s Club) and Eamon Rea (The Galtees Toastmaster’s Club, Mitchelstown).

Pat Sexton (Speak Easy Toastmaster’s Club, Mallow) won the evaluation contest and Eamon Ray (The Galtees Toastmaster’s Club, Mitchelstown) was runner up.

Kevin Walsh (Fermoy Toastmaster’s Club) and Pat Sexton(Speak Easy Toastmaster’s Club, Mallow) will represent Area 17 in the Divisional Finals of the International Speech and Evaluation Contests, which will be held in the Hibernian Hotel on Sunday the 17th of April 2011 at 2.30pm.

The topic session for the evening was conducted by Topicsmaster Johanna Hegarty. Johanna had a huge amount of topics which were varied and various.

Timekeepers Michael Sheehan and Ann Lyons reminded speakers/people contributing to topics when their allocated times were up. The Sergeants at Arms for the meeting were Jerry Mulcahy and Liam Flynn.

Speak Easy Toastmasters will hold their next meeting at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, Wednesday April 20th 2011 at 7:50PM. Non-members are more than welcome to attend and will not be asked to speak. Further details about the Club are available on our website, www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or follow us on Facebook