Speakeasy Toastmasters say ‘We Want it Now’

Another great night of entertainment at Speakeasy Toastmasters with a competitive edge; the Humourous Speech and Table Topics contest was the clubs first competition of the year and served up a wonderful fayre.

Club president Bobby Buckley welcomed all to the meeting particularly Area Director Anne Lawlor from Tralee Toastmasters, before handing over control of the meeting to Contest Chair Rachel Liston.

Claire O Connell was first up with her speech entitled ‘Boxed Up’. By her own admission Claire’s was what she called a serious speech with some injections of humour telling us of our toxic relationship with technology. Bemoaning the fact that the human aspect is even gone from shopping Claire wondered why do we have a ‘we want it now’ culture.

Next up to the lectern was Pat Sexton with a speech entitled Antartica, a rather tongue in cheek tale of his journey in his new Tesla to Mullingar. By journeys end and so down on power with no radio, no heaters and a car full of cranky passengers Pat wondered if the great explorer Tom Crean had ever suffered range anxiety. Having reached his destination at a sooty smoke, gas guzzling service station Pats parting shot to his audience was ‘why should I care about future generations; what has posterity ever done for me?’

Contestants for the Table Topics contest were Helsa Giles, Pat Sexton and Claire O Connell who battled it out with their views on the topic ‘What colour best describes your personality and why’.

Competitors and all present enjoyed a well earned break with teas and coffees before our meeting resumed with table topics.

Our Topics Master was Frances Lowry from Failte Toastmasters Charleville with a hugely entertaining and eclectic range of topics such as ‘What are you grateful for?’, ‘What motivates you to go to work?’.

Competition results were announced by Contest Chair Rachel LIsting and Pat Sexton was announced as our winner on the double claiming the Humourous Speech and Table Topics titles. Pat will now progress to the Area Finals being held in Tralee on 2^nd November.

We will endeavour to do it all again at our next meeting and you are most welcome to attend, it all takes place on Thursday 31^st October in The Hibernian Hotel at 8:00pm.

Awards: Speakeasy Toastmasters Contest Chair Rachel Liston presenting Pat Sexton with his certificate of participation in the Humourous Speech Contest

Speakeasy Toastmasters VP Education Paul Corcoran, President Bobby Buckley and Area Director Anne Lawlow (Tralee Toastmasters)

Looking After Ourselves and Our Planet

 Our president, Bobby Buckley, opened the meeting and referred to three well-known icons who have recently passed away - Kris Kristofferson, Maggie Smith, and Mary O’Rourke all rest in peace.

Michael Cronin, as MC for the evening, conducted the meeting with his usual ease and charm.

Amanda Conway gave a very confident presentation of a charming poem, ‘My Favourite Place To Be’.

Well-being of the individual and of our planet were themes running through Thursday’s meeting. In her speech, ‘Just An Email’, Rachel Liston shared her positive and enlightening experience of working under the guidance of a mentor, in spite of her initial reservations.

Paul Corcoran described his absolute delight in acquiring his ‘new best friend’ in his speech, ‘A New Journal’. He certainly convinced many in the audience of the joys and benefits of keeping a journal.

In his enthralling speech, Don McSweeney introduced us to the model of ‘The Doughnut’. The area between the two rings of the doughnut is considered a safe and just place for humanity and the planet to live. Living within these boundaries, all people’s basic social needs would be met and the safety of our planet would be secured. Right now, this model seems to offer us the best hope of a healthy future.

Helsa Giles, Brendan Foley, and Marie Fitzpatrick all gave positive and insightful evaluations of the respective speeches.

In a lively and very enjoyable topics session, Noel O’Connor posed questions about native plants that are under threat in Ireland, prejudices about drivers of electric cars, and opinions on what is an ideal holiday. Some aspired to an ecologically ethical holiday with Manchán by train, while others looked forward to braving the Greenways! Many opinions were exchanged in a respectful and often humorous way.

We left the meeting with plenty of food for thought and the prospect of the next meeting to look forward to on the 17th of October. This should be a very entertaining evening with a contest of Humorous Speeches and Table Topics.

Everyone Welcome!

Toastmaster: Michael Cronin, President: Bobby Buckley, Topicsmaster: Noel O'Connor

Evaluators: Helsa Giles and Marie Fitzpatrick.

Speakers: Paul Corcoran, Rachel Liston, and Don McSweeney