30/04/2026
With Pat Foley in the chair the Kilkenny Speakers Toastmasters Meeting on 21st April was going to memorable.
Sarah Gogan mediately put the meeting into overdrive with her masterful recital of Louis MacNeice’s poem Dublin. She carefully wove this with her own genealogical research into her family’s history in various parts of Dublin. Pat in his very positive feedback on the speech reminded us that Luke Kelly read the first verse of the poem as an intro to the song Nelson’s Farewell.
Aoife McMahon followed with a speech full of questions. At Toastmasters we love questions as they engage the audience. Did we have a healthy relationship with food? Apparently 75% of us do not with our initial thoughts on the sensory experience of food rather than the nutritional value. Aoife scored with her expert use of the screen to show slides. Visual aids like a few well-designed slides or some object like an umbrella if the subject is rainfall can add a lot to a speech as they did to Aoife’s.
Then in the break over tea and coffee Natasha Brooks and Jonny Hannon told us about their experiences at Toastmasters in New Zealand. They are currently visiting the Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford area looking for the best place to live. We of course already know where that is, so we are hoping to welcome them back.
Pearse O’Caoimh gave everyone an opportunity to practise their impromptu speaking skills in the Table Topics Session. Pearse gave out topics and members could give off-the-cuff responses of one to two minutes. Everyone took part in a very enjoyable session.
Kilkenny Speakers Toastmaster Club meet every first and third Tuesday of the month 5th May at 8.00pm at the Club House Hotel, Lower Patrick Street, Kilkenny R95 DX76 (Complimentary car park off New Street R95PX68). This is the place to become more comfortable with public speaking. Guests welcome. First three meetings free. No pressure to join.
