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 17th 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 12th 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
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