Breaking the mould and building momentum: Toastmasters double feature

April and May have been a busy and brilliant time for Mullingar Toastmasters. Creativity, courage, and connection have been the main themes and they were on full display at two unforgettable meetings, and also as two members stepped up to the international stage.

The Mullingar Toastmasters meeting on April 24 will go down in club history as one of the most innovative yet, as members were treated to not one or two, but three firsts.

One, they welcomed a brave new speaker, David Hoysted, who undertook his icebreaker speech, and members learned more about him and his motivations for joining the club. David proved again that every journey begins with a single, powerful step.

Two, a bilingual speech by another member, leading by example as she embraced her inner Irish speaker. She inspired the audience to go back to their school days and roots. They found their cupla focail more often. It served as a staunch reminder that ‘Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Bearla cliste’. It is better to have broken Irish than clever English.

Three, a call-and-response tag team speech by president Deirdre Bigley (mentor) and her mentee, Ian Cahill, brought the audience to life. The speech was engaging and entertaining in equal measure. It brought everyone along in a rhythm of interaction rarely seen in a Toastmasters setting.

Other firsts in the meeting included Fiona Collendar and Mary Frances Cox in new roles as timer and general evaluator respectively, which made an exciting and invigorating meeting as newer members showed they had lots of courage and were not afraid to take on a new challenge.

At the last meeting on May 8, mentorship took centre stage. Through speeches and discussion, members explored how guidance, encouragement, and shared experience shape personal and club growth. The meeting highlighted how mentoring lifts individuals and strengthens the wider Toastmasters community. The club is proof that when one member grows, members all do. In the famous words of John F Kennedy, a rising tide lifts all boats.

This meeting included speeches from Hijesh Lohidhakshan, Patsy Fagan, John Coyne, Mags Healy Donoghue and Tony Viney.

Tom Byrne used Mags Healy Donoghue’s speech as the perfect opportunity for some last minute practice for the evaluation contest in Solihull, taking place the following day.

The topics organised by Julie Kiernan were fun and engaging and everyone had an opportunity to participate.

And finally… the district competition.

The club had two members compete at the district finals in Solihull earlier this month, Brian McLoughlin, in the Humorous Speech Contest, delivering a sharp, entertaining speech that had the audience laughing from start to finish; and Tom Byrne in the Evaluation Contest, giving thoughtful, articulate feedback with poise and insight.

Although neither placed in their contests, both gave outstanding performances and made a lasting impression on the district audience. Representing the club at that level is an achievement in itself and they did an amazing job. Mullingar Toastmasters are proud of them and all the members who travelled to support.

At the same conference, Mullingar Toastmaster and area director, Derek Walsh, put himself forward as a candidate for the next division director and was elected. Congratulations to Derek on that and the best of luck in his new role. Derek had a successful year as area director and is using it as a stepping stone to the next level.

As the club year winds down for the final meeting before the summer break, members continue to celebrate the creativity, courage, and camaraderie that make the club so special. With upcoming events like the AGM, elections, and awards night on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to get involved.

The final meeting till September is this week, Thursday May 22, at the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar at 8pm. Please feel free to drop in and see what Mullingar Toastmasters is about. Make contact us on the Facebook page or at mullingartoastmasters@gmail.com.

Here’s to breaking new ground, mentoring one another, and celebrating every voice. If this article resonated with you in any way, come along and see if it is something for you. You will develop great speaking skills and also get to know a great community. You come for the speaking but keep coming back for the friends you make.