Finishing on a High

 Noel O’Connor acted as our Toastmaster for our last meeting of 2024 last Thursday. To open, Paul Murphy treated us to a poem he composed himself, entitled ‘Toastmasters’!

In his speech, ‘A Tune for the Road’, Bobby Buckley gave us an insight into a method he has developed for sparking inspiration for speeches. He walks a familiar route with a favourite song playing on a loop. As he allows ‘the beat to take him along’, he keeps an open mind and observes what is around him. And hey presto, he is sometimes surprised by an idea that culminates in a speech! The challenge? ‘Can we all produce a walking speech?’

‘How I Got into Heaven’ was the intriguing title of Michael Cronin’s speech. Michael was in fine jocose form as he related his yarn as the last of three desperate men seeking to justify their admittance to Heaven by St Peter. Space does not permit me to elaborate on how Michael found himself naked in a fridge being flung from a fifteenth-storey apartment balcony!

Pat Sexton bemoaned his decision to go AWOL from school for a day in his speech, ‘Things that Happen While You are Planting Your Potatoes’. ‘After enduring years of boredom’ at a local secondary school, Pat claimed that there was more excitement in that one day than in the four years preceding it. This was a school tale in which he feels justice was served.

Claire O’Connell certainly challenged members with her original topics. ‘Who was your best friend when you were 21?’ evoked some emotional responses, while ‘What is your least favourite TV programme?’ aroused passionate ones, ranging from ‘Love Island’ to ‘Wheeler Dealers’.

‘What celebrity would you like to be married to?’ warranted a careful reply from a married member. ‘Could you produce a tasty dish with a mixture of vegetables and fruit?’ and ‘The use of AI in educational assignments’ also elicited varying responses.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making it a very lively and entertaining meeting. We look forward to our next meeting on Thursday, January 9th. Why not make it part of your New Year’s resolutions? Come along to one of our meetings. You will be made very welcome and will not have to say a word unless you want to.

Paul Murphy (poem), Bobby Buckley, Michael Cronin, and Pat Sexton (speeches)

The evaluators: Donal Jones, Brendan Foley, and Trevor O'Sullivan

Toastmaster Noel O'Connor, Topicsmaster Claire O'Connell, and President Bobby Buckley

Food For Thought

 Last Thursday’s meeting was a very enjoyable one, and as usual, this was due to a combined effort. Thank you to Brendan Foley, who acted as our genial host/Toastmaster for the evening, and to Frances Lowry, who performed the demanding role of Timer very efficiently.

Michael Cronin began the contributions by titillating the interest of the audience with an extract from a poem by John Donne, written over four hundred years ago: ‘To His Mistress Going to Bed.’

‘That’s Why I’m Here’ was the title of veteran Toastmaster Pat Sexton’s speech. Pat admitted to never having suffered from glossophobia but attributed his skill in coping with daunting and intimidating situations to his involvement in Toastmasters. He expressed his continuing satisfaction in seeing people blossom and grow in confidence through their experience at Toastmasters.

Rachel Liston shared her yoga journey with us in a speech entitled ‘Balance.’ Finding that her coordination and short height were causing her difficulties, she decided to embark on a yoga course for fitness and balance. She shared the joy of finding herself feeling rather inflexible in a room full of yogis and a super supple instructor. But she persevered and signed up for a yoga retreat. Here, she succeeded in doing the most difficult task of all, according to the instructor: she learned to lie utterly still and quieten her mind. At the end, she showcased her skill at the tree pose for us all!

In ‘A Girl Called Happy,’ Claire O’Connell assured us that the true source of happiness and contentment comes from within. It is not to be found in having possessions or the perfect body. We are constantly being ambushed by ads telling us what we need. If we could take control and learn to be thankful for all we’ve got, she argued, we could all find our happy selves.

In ‘Do the Right Thing,’ Marie Lynes gave us a timely reminder of the long struggle it took to win universal suffrage for us. In a world where only a minority of people enjoy democratic rights, she urged us to value our vote and use it wisely.

Jillian Harris had a food theme running through the topics she posed for members to speak on, off the cuff. “What food could you imagine living on for the rest of your life?” Helsa’s roast chicken dinner seemed a far more attractive prospect than Michael’s choice of tapioca or Don’s choice of quinoa! The topic of palm oil aroused strong feelings and helpful suggestions on how to avoid it. Brendan admitted his ability to cook but expressed his aversion to culinary snobbery.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to another evening full of cheer and variety.

Our final meeting for 2024 will be on Thursday, 12th December. Why not come along? Everyone is welcome!

The Top Table

The Speakers

The Evaluators