All winners, strictly speaking
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Philip Howlin, Toastmasters Mullingar, Eva McKenna, third place, Loreto College Mullingar, Melissa Keogh, first place, Columba College, Killucan, Mary Wynne, Soroptimist, and Juliet Barnard, second place winner, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge.Image 2 of 13
Participants in the Soroptimist Girls Public Speaking Competition at the event in the Annebrook House Hotel on Saturday afternoon.Image 3 of 13
Sarah McCormack, Soroptimists, Mark Kavanagh, teacher at Mullingar Community College, Maria Miguel, Kamile Ochothikova and Millie Fitzsimons, students at Mullingar Community College, and Mary Wynne, Soroptimist.Image 4 of 13
There were 17 participants in the local heat of this year’s Soroptimist Girls Public Speaking Competition.Image 5 of 13
Mary Wynne, Soroptimist, Caroline Connolly, Soroptimist, Eva McKenna, Loreto College, Mullingar, Lorraine Maxwell, mother, Paul McKenna, father, and Sarah McCormack, Soroptimist.Image 6 of 13
Sarah McCormack, Soroptimists, Breanna O’Sullivan, Nicole Kingsley, Zara Delaney, Lily Coyle, Faye Duncan, Students from Wilson’s Hospital School, Mary Wynne, Soroptimist, and Eithne Walsh, Soroptimist.Image 7 of 13
Niamh Sheridan, deputy principal at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Juliet Barnard, Tara Larkin, Alanza Rose Bijoy, students at St Joseph’s.Image 8 of 13
Eithne Walsh, Soroptimist, Michelle Murray, teacher at Columba College, Killucan, Amelia Makowska, Ella O’Neill, Melissa Keogh, students at Columba College, Sarah McCormack, Soroptimist, and Caroline Connolly, Soroptimist.Image 9 of 13
Eithne Walsh, Soroptimist, Olga Cosgrave, teacher at Loreto College, Mullingar, George Mills, Eva McKenna, and Sarah McCormack, Soroptimist.Image 10 of 13
Ann Marie Casey, deputy principal, Georgia Carr, student at Castlepollard Community College, and Sarah McCormack, Soroptimist.Image 11 of 13
Participants that attended the Soroptimist Girls’ Public Speaking CompetitionImage 12 of 13
Philip Howlin speaking at the eventImage 13 of 13
Melissa Keogh, a fifth year student at Columba College, Killucan, one of the winners selected on Saturday, with Philip Howlin and Mary Wynne.The Soroptimist Girls Public Speaking Competition is now in its 45th year and the local heat of the 2025/26 competition was in the Annebrook House Hotel hosted by Mullingar and District Soroptimists, on Saturday. The aim of the competition is to empower young women to engage confidently in public life, to strengthen their communication and public speaking skills, foster articulate and persuasive expression and build self-confidence.
This year 17 young women from six different schools presented speeches on a range of topics in line with the principles and mission of Soroptimist. The participating students were from Loreto College Mullingar, Columba College Killucan, Mullingar Community College, Wilson’s Hospital School, Castlepollard Community College and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge.
The competition is a three-stage process involving local and regional heats and a national final. Two participants are selected at the local heat to go through to the regional final, which this year will be held in Dublin.
The two successful participants selected at the local heat are Melissa Keogh from Columba College and Juliet Barnard from St Joseph’s Secondary School. A third participant is also selected as the reserve speaker, and this year that is Eva McKenna from Loreto College.
Melissa, Juliet and Eva will have the opportunity in the coming weeks to present their speeches at a meeting of Mullingar Toastmasters where they will receive invaluable coaching and advice on finessing their presentations.
Mullingar and District Soroptimists are ever grateful to the teachers and families of participating students who provide invaluable support to the young women as they prepare for the competition.