Speak Easy 20th March 2025

 Marie Fitzpatrick led last week’s meeting with grace and style as Toastmaster. Jillian Harris, as Topics master, sparked lively contributions ranging from Marrakech to the Healy Pass and exploring how childhood crawling might influence our sense of direction!

Claire O’Connell shared her thought-provoking poem, The Starter Encore, offering a sharp focus on inequality.

Brendan Foley’s speech, Procrastination Think Again, reassured us that we are not alone in delaying tasks — 90% of people admit to it!. He provided practical strategies to avoid the stress and guilt of procrastination, reminding us that the longest journey begins with a single step.

In Robert and the Tannhäuser, Bobby Buckley reflected on his youthful dreams of athletic glory, fuelled by Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture played on an old gramophone. While his goals and music have changed over time, his will to win, even at Toastmasters, remains strong.

Paul Corcoran delivered a master class in project organisation with, Revamping My Business. His long term goal is to expand his practice. His short term focus is to optimise his website. Using a WhatsApp group and a shared Google document, he structured his process and set a clear deadline — an update speech in four weeks at Speakeasy. We look forward to hearing about his progress.

A big thank you to all who contributed, including Helsa Giles (Timer), Rachel Liston (General Evaluator) and Paul Corcoran (VPE) who always ensures smooth meetings with his agenda planning.

We meet again in the Hibernian Hotel on Thursday, April 3rd at 7.50pm.

Guests are always welcome and will not be asked to speak.

Toastmaster, Marie Fitzpatrick, President Bobby Buckley and Topicsmaster, Jillian Harris

Speakers and Poetmaster: Brendan Foley, Bobby Buckley, Claire O'Connell, and Paul Corcoran.

The Evaluators: Marie Fitzpatrick, Pat Sexton, and Margaret O'Regan.

Pat Sexton Wins Area 17 Speech Evaluation Contest

Congratulations to Pat Sexton, who emerged victorious in the Area 17 Speech Evaluation Contest in Tralee and will now go on to represent Area 17 at the Division A Finals in Cork on April 6th.

Paul Gallagher acted as our genial Toastmaster for the evening on March 6th, setting the tone by reminding us of the power of language—“the lens through which we see the world.”

Don McSweeney opened the presentations with a romantic poem from the 1500s. Many will remember Sonnet 29 from the English textbook Soundings, where Shakespeare expresses feelings of self-doubt and despair before finding solace in the love of his beloved, declaring he would not trade his fate for that of a king.

Marking the approach of International Women’s Day, Marie Lynes delivered a stirring tribute to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, the Kanturk-born suffragette, nationalist, and social reformer. Hanna endured imprisonment, the loss of her teaching position, and the unlawful execution of her husband, Francis, yet she remained steadfast in her fight for justice and equality. Marie urged us to draw inspiration from Hanna’s unwavering belief that a more just society is always possible.

Rachel Liston’s speech, Play to Your Strengths, illustrated how this principle has shaped her career. Her early love of gardening fostered curiosity about the natural world, while her logical and analytical approach led her to the study of Science. Clarity and precision became her strengths, suiting her role in a pharmaceutical company. However, she emphasized that playing to one’s strengths does not mean limiting oneself. She takes pride in expanding her skill set, and her confidence as a speaker has flourished through Toastmasters.

Jillian Harris provided an insightful behind-the-scenes look at the organization of the 200th-anniversary celebrations of St. James’ Church in Mallow in her speech, What Goes on in the Background. A dedicated committee oversaw the year-long events, and she highlighted the importance of fostering a positive working environment where skills were shared, communication was key, and respect was paramount. There were challenges along the way, including learning to delegate and overcoming unforeseen obstacles—such as an issue with the church’s electrics during the grand Christmas Concert in December—but all the effort culminated in a resounding success.

The evening concluded with a lively Topics Session, led by Helsa Giles, featuring thought-provoking questions such as “What advice would you give Romeo before he met Juliet?” and “Is the pen mightier than the sword?”

📅 Our next meeting takes place on Thursday, March 20th, at 7:50 PM. Everyone is welcome!

🌍 SpeakeasyToastmasters.com

The ladies at Speakeasy stand together for International Women's Day. L to R. Claire O'Connell, Jillian Harris, Marie Lynes, Rachel Liston, Helsa Giles, Margaret O'Regan and Marie Fitzpatrick

Pat Sexton, Speakeasy, receives First Place from Ann Lawlor, Director and Derry Butler, President Tralee Toastmasters.

Paul Corcoran, General Evaluator, and Don McSweeney who presented 'poem of the day'

Evaluators: Margaret O'Reagan, Bobby Buckley, and Pat Sexton 

Speakers: Rachel Liston, Jillian Harris, and Marie Lynes