Stories, Straw & Spark: A Night of Inspiration at Mallow Toastmasters

As the evenings draw in and the year moves swiftly along, P Corcoran, our ever-enthusiastic President, opened last week’s meeting with warm housekeeping notes and a reminder that the club year is flying by. He encouraged members to step forward and fill the agenda — so if you have a speech ready to share, be sure to speak with our VPE, M O’Regan.

Our Toastmaster of the evening, M Fitzpatrick, guided us seamlessly through a lively and well-balanced agenda, while B Buckley, as Topicsmaster, kept everyone on their toes with a fun and thought-provoking impromptu speaking session. H Giles kept us all on schedule as the diligent Timekeeper, ensuring a smooth flow from start to finish.

The evening began on a creative note with C O’Connell, our Poet for the night, who delighted the audience with her own beautiful composition “Angel Maid.”

Speeches That Inspired and Entertained

The first speech of the evening came from M O’Donnell, delivering her icebreaker, “Travel… A Beginner’s Mind.” It was an inspiring reflection on the openness and curiosity that travel can spark — an excellent introductory speech aptly evaluated by P Corcoran.

Next, L Flynn transported us through time with “Strawing,” a fascinating exploration of how straw has woven its way through Irish storytelling and tradition. N O’Connor offered thoughtful and encouraging feedback on this rich historical topic.

Our final prepared speech came from M Cronin, who entertained with “Are You Indecisive?… I Am Not Sure.” The humour and relatability of his delivery kept everyone smiling, and T O’Sullivan provided a succinct and supportive evaluation.

The meeting wrapped up with a comprehensive general evaluation from P Gallagher, who highlighted the evening’s strong structure, enthusiasm, and engagement from all participants.

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Looking Ahead — Upcoming Meeting (October 30th, 2025)

Next week promises another fantastic evening of speeches and creativity. We’ll enjoy 4 speeches on the night:

1. C O’Connell – 6-minute speech evaluated by B Buckley

2. H Giles – evaluated by P Corcoran

3. P Sexton – evaluated by M Lynes

4. J McConville - evaluated by Marie Fitzpatrick

It’s shaping up to be another inspiring meeting filled with learning, laughter, and connection — a reminder of what makes our Toastmasters community so special.

If you’ve been thinking about stepping up to the lectern, now’s the time. Do you have a wedding speech or work commitment to practice for? Practising English? Toastmasters might just be the place for you!

Join us as a guest this coming Thursday (30th October) in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow at 8pm (entrance fee €7 for room cover). See you there!