Mullingar Toastmasters ‘Other Voices series’ welcomed Senator Eileen Flynn

Published: Fri 12 Mar 2021, 12:22 PM

Last updated: Fri 12 Mar 2021, 12:49 PM

The Toastmasters community were honoured to welcome Senator Eileen Flynn to come and talk to us as part of our ‘Other Voices series’ on February 25. This series was the brainchild of our president, Maria Costello, who was eager to extend the toastmaster platform to marginalised communities to tell their stories.

The senator gave an honest and real account of what life is like for someone growing up in the Traveller community, and about daily discrimination, internal and external barriers that affected her.

She identified a large cohort of society that is being marginalised, from people of colour, to residents of direct provision, and those who have a disability.

Senator Flynn wishes to be a voice for inequality, inclusion and diversity.

She confronted the perception of Ireland as a small, friendly nation, and faced us with the sad reality that our society often doesn’t display that friendliness to ethnic minorities.

She talked about the education challenge for the 40,000-strong Traveller community. Unemployment is 86pc. Safe accommodation and mental health are the other major challenges facing the Traveller community. Mental health is the silent killer in the community, she informed. Its impact is far reaching. Shockingly, one in 11 deaths is by suicide, she said.

She shared worrying statistics that Traveller women are six times more likely to die by suicide than general population and that Traveller men live 15 fewer years than men in the general population.

The Traveller narrative is one of constant rejection by the system and society. The senator said “this is just not good enough”.

She said she had been told her whole life that all she was going to be was “a Traveller woman”. Her family were sceptical that her activism could make a difference. She revealed that people she knows from her community working in what are deemed to be society-approved day jobs hide their identity and culture. She knows doctors and school principals are afraid to acknowledge their roots for fear of losing their jobs and being shunned by the majority.

Her aunt couldn’t say she was related to her niece for fear of outing her own Traveller identity and being judged.

The senator’s mantra has been to be true to herself. At the start, she felt she wasn’t good enough, but through good advice from friends she was encouraged to embrace her unique talents and skills. Her passion clearly shines through.

The most important advice that carries her through is “you should never see yourself as above or below anybody”.

As she looks to make a difference for all ethnic minorities, she says that often the basics are lacking and it is something she is looking to change. Health problems in ethnic minorities are a real challenge, due to such things as poor accommodation and genetic health challenges.

The senator is pushing for enhanced healthcare for Travellers and for hate crime legislation in Ireland to protect everyone.

Asked what we can all do to help, she said, “just smile and say hello”. After a lifetime of rejection, she knows that it is acceptance and kindness that is appreciated.

The senator left us with a final uplifting message to “believe in yourself, so everyone else has no option”.

Spring in the air

Senator Flynn was the highlight of the Mullingar Toastmasters spring meeting, but the members lived up to expectations too. Our superb Toastmaster of the night, Geraldine Smith, ran a meeting with a spring theme as the message of rejuvenation and hope resonated with all in the Toastmasters community.

Thirty six members attended, from all around the country, among them Derek Walsh, a dynamic new member, who delivered a speech called ‘It is not Rocket Science’, taking us on a nostalgic tour of the cheese phase of his life and his love of that product.

Philip Howlin gave an update on Toastmaster branding and how to design posters as part of the online graphic design tool Canva. John Waldron gave a masterclass in topics and encouraged everyone to keep it simple by taking on the topic with enthusiasm and to entertain and enjoy.

Damien Rooney was our storyteller topics master for the night and delved into favourite places, things and songs. Ultimately we came to the conclusion that a 99 in Galway and a dip in the sea in Donegal would be good for the soul when lockdown lifts.

Our next meeting is on March 25. We welcome you into our community and would be delighted to have you along. Maybe this is the year you will join us!

Please contact us with any queries. We have had lots of guests this year and if you would like to come along as a guest just reach out. I promise you it will help you enjoy the dark evenings.