A Special Contest Night in Mallow
Speak Easy Mallow Toastmasters held a slightly different kind of meeting on Thursday, 19th February 2026, gathering at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow, from 7.45pm for an 8pm start. The evening took the form of a club contest meeting, showcasing some of the strongest speaking talent within the club.
Club President Mr Paul Corcoran opened proceedings and welcomed members and guests before handing control to the Contest Chair, James McConville, who oversaw the programme for the remainder of the evening.
Judges and Officials Set the Standard
The contest team ensured the evening ran smoothly and to Toastmasters standards.
Noel O’Connor served as Chief Judge, assisted by counters María O’Donnell and Rose Murphy.
Timing duties were handled by Margaret O’Regan and Juan Miguel Camarasa, keeping each speaker precisely on schedule.
For the Evaluation Contest, the role of test speaker was kindly filled by Finbarr Harty, who travelled from Talking Heads Toastmasters Club in Garryvoe who meet on Tuesday evenings.
International Speech Contest Takes Centre Stage
The first competition of the evening was the International Speech Contest, featuring three Speak Easy members: Claire O’Connell, Pat Sexton, and Bobby Buckley.
Drawn at random, Pat Sexton opened with his original speech “Toreador – Until You Hear the Bell,” entertaining the audience with a confident and polished performance.
He was followed by Claire O’Connell, who delivered “Barter Smarter,” an engaging and thought-provoking speech on financial wisdom.
The contest concluded with Bobby Buckley, who rounded out the session with “You Remind Me of the Baroque,” a speech that blended humour and reflection.
While the judges deliberated, each competitor received a certificate of participation, and the meeting paused for a well-earned tea break.
Insightful Evaluations in the Second Half
The second half of the meeting featured the Evaluation Speech Contest. Finbarr Harty delivered his original speech “Time for a Cuppa,” and the three contestants — Claire O’Connell, Pat Sexton, and Bobby Buckley — each presented their evaluations in turn.
Each evaluation offered constructive feedback, encouragement, and clear suggestions for improvement, reinforcing the Toastmasters ethos of confidence-building and supportive learning. The session proved both educational and thoroughly enjoyable for speakers and audience alike.
While the judges deliberated, the club kept the energy high with a short impromptu Table Topics session, encouraging audience participation and engagement.
Results and Recognition
The announcement of results brought the evening to an exciting close.
In the International Speech Contest, First Place went to Pat Sexton for “Toreador – Until You Hear the Bell,” with Second Place awarded to Bobby Buckley for “You Remind Me of the Baroque.”
In the Evaluation Contest, Pat Sexton claimed First Place, while Claire O’Connell secured Second Place.
The overall standard of the meeting was exceptionally high, reflecting the dedication and preparation of all involved.
Winning contestant Pat Sexton with Contest Chair James McConville
Looking Ahead to Area Competition
As a result of his wins, Pat Sexton will now represent Speak Easy Mallow Toastmasters at the Area 17 Competition, taking place on Sunday, 8th March, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm, once again at the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. All are welcome to attend, including guests to support the competitors. Our next scheduled meeting is Thursday, 5th March at 8pm.
Anyone interested in learning more about Speak Easy Mallow Toastmasters or getting involved is invited to get in touch by sending a direct message on Facebook or Instagram by searching for “Speakeasy Mallow.”
