Christmas Meeting

At our Christmas Meeting we were treated to a great night of Speeches and Poetry as well as finger food and Christmas cake and mince pies at the Tea Break.   Maire Lynes was Toasmaster for the meeting.     Mary Buckley was Topicsmaster and for a change she experimented by giving out  a line “It was the night before Christmas..” to the audience and everyone had to continue on after the previous person.    She also had us speaking off the cuff with topics “How to handle stress at Christmas.” And “The twelve pubs at Christmas.”  Bobby Buckley took on the Role of Poetmaster for the Meeting and the title of his poem was “The Christmas Cake.”

He recalled how he was sent as a young boy to buy the ingredients for his mother’s Christmas cake and then watching his mother making the cake and waiting to lick the wooden spoon when she was finished.   It certainly brought back memories for a lot of us.    Liam Flynn, Area Governor reminded us of that a number of members and former members who had passed away during the past year  -  Jerry Mulcahy, Tom O’Connor, Deirdre Horgan Dunlea and Jim Culloty.   He recited an extract from  the poem titled “Jack” which the late Tom O’Connor had  written.

Next to the lectern was Brendan Foley with a speech titled “Ambivalence”   He encouraged us not to be indecisive by writing down a plan and then finding out how to go about achieving it.  He outlined that it is better to make a bad decision than no decision.  Liam Flynn evaluated Brendan’s speech.    

Our next speaker was Jerry O’Callaghan with  a speech titled “From Starlight to Starlight.”   He recounted  the story of his late uncle, Mick who in the 1930s went to a Hiring Fair and got work on a farm for a six month contract to help supplement the family income.   This was a very common practise of that time. Bridie O’Connell evaluated Jerry’s speech.

Michael Cronin was next up with a speech titled “The Ladies of Llangollen.”   He recounted the story of Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby two upper class Anglo Irish women from Kilkenny in the 17^th century who moved to Wales and set up home there.   Their house became a haven for writers such as Wordsworth,Sheeley, Bryon and Scott.    Don McSweeney evaluated Michael’s speech.    

Our final speaker for the evening was Noel O’Connor who read an extract from a book by George Ryan titled “No time for work.”    Claire O’Connell evaluated Noel’s speech.

Anne ODonovan was Timekeeper for the Meeting and Pat Sexton was General Evaluator.

Maire Fitzpatrick, President  wished us all a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 12^th January, 2017 at 8 p.m. in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.   All are welcome.   Try something different for the New Year.    Guests are never asked to speak. Further information on Speakeasy Toastmasters can be had by visiting adt www.speakeasytoastmasters.com or by contacting Marie Fitzpatrick, President

(086)8548389 or Hela Giles, E.V.P. (086)0762015

Christmas Meeting

SPEAKEASY   TOASTMASTERS

We had a wide range of speeches at this week’s Toastmaster’s Meeting.    President, Marie Fitzpatrick welcomed all members and guests to the Meeting .  Toastmaster for the night was John Brennan .   Topicsmaster for the  meeting was Ronan  Condon who kept us on our toes with topics ”Flight or Fight” and “Supermarket  Checkouts – Self Service or Not.” 

Leah McCarthy Cahill from St. Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow, was our Guest this week  and treated us to a speech titled “The not so secret lives of Bees.”    She enthralled us with details of Bees and their Hives and how they are now an endangered species.   She encouraged us to plant Bee friendly flowers, and to put out small containers of water and sugar as the bees get thirsty and also to shop local by purchasing locally produced honey.   Noel O’Connor evaluated Leah’s speech and congratulated her on her superb speech. 

Next to the lectern was Marie Lynes with a speech titled  “Violet and Il Duce.”    Marie recounted the story of Violet Gibson the woman who shot Mussollini  and as a result spent the rest of her life in an asylum even though she was not insane.   Mary Buckley evaluated Marie’s speech.     

Theresa O’Reilly  was our next speaker with a speech titled “The Lotus.”    She outlined the benefits of yoga and demonstrated some of the exercises .   Our lives today are a lot more sedentary that fifty years ago so we need to do more exercise because now is felt that “Sitting in the new Smoking.”   Bobby Buckley evaluated Theresa’s Speech.

 Jason Fitzgerald’s speech was titled “Negotiating Christmas as a 9 year old Boy.”   Jason told a touching seasonal story about a boy’s discovery of the true spirit of Christmas.     Kieran Butler evaluated Jason’s speech.    

Claire O’Connell was our final speaker  for the evening with a speech titled ”The Observers.”   Claire vividly described what it could be like to be  in a waiting room between Heaven and Hell  and reading our observers report on our lives.    Brendan Foley evaluated Claire’s speech.

Ray Ryan was General Evaluator for the meeting.

Our next meeting in on Thursday 15^th December at 8 p.m. in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow.  All are welcome.   Guests are never asked to speak.

Further information on Speakeasy Toastmasters can be had by visiting our website at www.speakeasytoastmasters.com  or by contacting Marie Fitzpatrick, President (086) 8548389 or Helsa Giles, E.V.P. (086)0762015