Winning by doing!

Our President Declan opened the meeting by welcoming members and guests - making note to highlight how Toastmasters can help you learn and grow with each meeting. It’s a place where you can challenge yourself - and where the hardest part is sometimes getting in the door, you’re on the road to success (and in good company too)!

The Topicsmaster for the night, Margaret, introduced some interesting topics that were open to the floor. This is a section where both members and guests can engage with the content, and offer their story, or even a few words simply to dip their toe in the waters for speaking in front of others. We had audience members talking about their chosen talent at the gender - neutral Rose of Tralee 2025 , their ideal dinner party with 3 guests of their choosing, the chosen sport if they were to represent Ireland in the Olympics, Time travel, and also an All-Ireland winning speech!

 After the break, the meeting moved to the four speeches of the night. Jennifer was first up and gave an impactful speech on a tough time that she went through recently. The story began with sunshine and warmth but was soon contrasted against a backdrop that had a ‘smell of disappointment’. The story concluded with some wise words for anyone encountering a difficult time in their life and find themselves spiraling in despair - don’t believe you can break this thing alone. Find some help. Don’t lie down, take on any challenge no matter how big it is….but don’t feel like you have to go through it alone.

Eugene was next up and spoke about conflict - superiority and supremacy. His story telling had us examining our very nature, and how conflict is embedded in our genes. Nature’s conflict lies at the end of our legs, we need to defeat the other side. A compromise in modern times often results in both side winning in some aspects, but also losing in others. Both sides win and lose simultaneously. He then went on to look at ‘elusory superiority’ - where a person overestimates their own qualities or abilities. The human mind won’t allow you to believe that you’re at ‘the bottom’. A mindset that indulges in a supremacist mindset has led to disastrous outcomes, such as the holocaust.  He reasoned that the greatest gift that any parent could give a child is self control. Simply saying no. Resolve conflict before it begins, with children, as they’re learning to find their way in life.

Pat Coakley’s comedic speech was aimed at a fellow Toastmaster - Mike Joyce, where Mike was ‘roasted in a gentle way’, as Pat put it later in the evening. For example, we learned that not only does Mike enjoy his Jazz, he was well traveled - and has ventured to such far away places as Belmullet, Belfast and Ballinrobe. He’s also an aspiring Mayo supporter, despite being from Galway (he won’t openly admit it, but he doesn’t suffer with his Mayo-ism).

Pat Croke then brought us on a cyclic storytelling journey of his tribe. Beginning with ‘Lughnasa’ or ‘Lu’, he went on to touch a wide range of old Irish names, folklore and story including Crom Dubh (Sunday), the Fir Bolg, Tuatha Dé Danaan and also infused the famous story of Cú Chulainn. The story then wound back to the beginning, bringing the many moving parts involved in the journey back to his tribe.

 

The evaluations in turn focused on the positives from each of the speeches provided, while also highlighting potential areas for improvement. The constructive criticism encourages the growth of members that is often evident in the next speech.

 

Members often sing praises of almost every aspect of Toastmasters to those who are remotely interested, the benefits of attending the meetings that contribute to self confidence, public speaking skills and leadership skills. Though, there are other aspects that may not seem as enticing at the outset - simply knowing that you’ll enjoy yourself. 

If you were blessed enough to attend this meeting, you witnessed Cormac’s delivery of a word play by Adam Roa entitled ‘You are who you've been looking for’. If you were captivated by each and every word, a research in all recordings online there are - not one will match Cormac’s delivery and no-one wouldn’t blame you if you asked him to repeat that same word play in an upcoming meeting!