The International Speech Contest featured the following speeches. 
Anthony
 Garvey delivered a speech entitled, "Mature Student. " It was only ten 
days to exams when a rumour rocked the campus. The most head wrecking, 
brain twisting exam had been stolen and was available on line for the 
mere sun of 300 euro. Anthony had forgotten about exams during the 
cultural exchange of youth and adult, but he was here to tell us that 
education can not be bought. Anthony won first place. 
Holly
 Blake delivered a speech entitled, "A Good Sense Of Humour." Holly was 
climbing a mountain in Nepal, when life changed for her. Her father was 
diagnosed with motor neurons disease. There was no cure, but his sense 
of humour developed and kept everyone  laughing. During her absence, her
 father bowed out gracefully. Holly challenged everyone to grab life and
 live it to the full. Holly won second place. 
Tom
 O'Connor laid bare the mysterious link between music and the soul. The 
creative chemistry of artists who were held in one of the concentration 
camp in World War 2 produced a spectacular rendition of a requiem under 
the most atrocious of conditions. Tom won third place. 
Joey
 O'Leary delivered a speech entitled, "Tunnels. " In life there are 
different tunnels.  Tunnels that bring you from A to B, and tunnels that
 are emotional. Emotional tunnels are difficult to navigate your way out
 of. Joey encouraged everyone to reach out to those around them. The 
smallest gesture can provide a sign-post, guiding a person towards the 
way out of their own emotional tunnel. Toast Masters is an organisation 
which raises confidence, and can serve as a light in the difficult 
times. 
Christine
 Conway delivered a speech entitled, "Down, Down and Away. " Saint 
 Patrick's Day is celebrated world wide,  due in no small way to 
enforced economic emigration. Her own children were unable to climb the 
career ladder in Ireland, because there was no ladder. Someone had taken
 the ladder away. Three of  her children have emigrated and she was 
delighted by the surprise present of a trip to Perth Australia to visit 
her children. She was tempted to remain in the balmy heat of  Australia,
 but she decided to go home and say, not goodbye but see you soon, to 
her children.
Michael
 Barrett delivered a speech entitled, " First Date." When he was in 
college, Michael experienced that common difficulty, the lack of a 
partner for a ball.  By a stroke of luck he met a beautiful girl at the 
bus stop and made a date. They agreed to meet under the Mangan's clock. 
Unfortunately many a couple had the same plan. Michael tried to identify
 his date. Peering into the face of each girl,  he eventually identitied
 his date on round two. Poor Michael was left looking for that silver 
lining among the clouds as his dream evening fell apart. 
The
 Evaluation Test Speech was provided Brian McLoughlin. "The Ice Cream 
Cone." After a heart attack, a nun began to feel guilt about her style 
of teaching. People assured her that she had done her best  for her 
pupils. Her guilt centred around one girl. Enventually she came to 
realise that that girl had handed her a peace offering long ago, in the 
form of an ice cream cone. Through this moment of clarity she gained 
both peace and happiness. 
The
 contestants were awarded;  Olivia Dunne 1st, Pat Sexton 2nd and Anthony
 Galvin 3rd. Claire Maloney, Justine McCarthy and Ted Mellamphy provided
 competition.  
Congratulations and best wishes to our winners in the next round. 
 
 
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