Kanturk supreme in Schools Speech Contest.

Kanturk is making a habit of winning. Their G.A.A. Club had a double triumph in the County Football and Hurling Championships. And now their Secondary Schools did a clean sweep in the Annual Speakeasy Toastmasters Schools Public Speaking Competition.

The Best Individual Speaker was Darragh Healy-Fitzgerald, representing Scoil Mhuire while the Best Overall Team was Coláiste Treasa.Many observers believe that the standard displayed by all contestants was the highest seen in the twelve years of the Competition.

Darragh-Healy Fitzgerald with Club President Helsa Giles.

Darragh Healy-Fitzgerald is the first pupil from Scoil Mhuire to win the top prize.  Darragh, who hails from Liscarroll gave a speech about the evils of prejudice entitled - 'Birds of a feather - stereotype together'. Darragh's message was pithy and profound - 'If you judge the book by the cover, you will fail to read the words within'. 

Second Prize went to Charlotte Giles of Coláiste Treasa. She based her speech around the beautiful words of Nelson Mandela - 'There is no passion to be found in living a life less than the one you are capable of living'. It was a moving and thoughtful reflection on the value of mental health.

Charlotte Giles with Club President Helsa Giles.

In third place was Queensly Erhaber, St. Mary's Mallow who addressed the ever topical subject of 'Terrorism'. She drew parallels between the actions of gunmen in tragedies like Las Vegas, Sandy Hook School and the church killings by Dylan Roof and what we classify as terrorism. 

She challenged us as to why all shootings aren't classified for what they are - acts of terrorism.

Queensly Erhaber with Club President Helsa Giles.

Also participating in the Competition were speakers from Nagle Ríce, Doneraile, Davis College and the Patrician Academy, Mallow.

The Club wish to express our continued gratitude to Mallow Credit Union for their generous sponsorship of this event. 

Speakeasy will round off their Meetings Programme for 2017 with our Christmas Meeting on Thursday, 14th December. As always, we will have usual meeting but with a festive feel. So, if you wish to experience Speakeasy in a slightly different mode, why not exercise your right to party at our Christmas Meeting in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow at 8.00pm. As a guest you will be very welcome and, who knows, it may inspire you to make a Toastmasters New Year's resolution. 

For more information, check out the website speakeasytoastmasters.com or follow us on Facebook. Alternatively you can contact Helsa Giles, 083 8858848.