Mullingar Toastmasters begin 2026 with inspiration, insight and impact

Mullingar Toastmasters wasted no time in returning to what they do best when they opened their 2026 programme on Thursday January, and that is empowering members to become confident communicators, effective leaders, and lifelong learners in a supportive and engaging environment.

Public speaking is the bridge between knowledge and understanding, and at Mullingar Toastmasters that bridge is built twice monthly through encouragement, practice, and fun. The first meeting of the year demonstrated the power of strong communication, as every speaker delivered clear messages, grew in confidence, and embraced opportunities for learning and enjoyment through the evening.

Public speaking is not an extra; it is a vital life and career skill. It makes your work visible, strengthens leadership, sharpens thinking, and – when done with clarity – builds trust. The meeting showcased those benefits in action.

New member Liz Ushakova, who joined the club in November 2025, delivered her icebreaker speech entitled ‘Recalculating Route’. Her message was that while life rarely follows a predictable path, the response to uncertainty is always within our control. Her speech was one of hope, resilience, and determination, setting an uplifting tone for the year ahead.

Veteran member Tom Byrne discussed vulnerability in public speaking, reflecting on how the motivation that inspires people to start is worth revisiting whenever doubts arise. He encouraged members to harness nerves as a driving force rather than a barrier to progress.

In her speech ‘It’s My Circus and Those Are My Monkeys’, Niamh Tubridy invited members to fully embrace the challenges and opportunities before them, reframing obstacles as goals to be reached rather than hurdles to overcome.

Rounding up the prepared speeches club president Philip Howlin, in ‘Leading My Year And Not Letting It Lead Me’, encouraged members to identify their personal leadership styles and lean into them as a means of growth, professionally and personally.

The evening was expertly facilitated by Toastmaster of the evening, Mags Healy Donoghue, who guided members through a full and varied agenda.

The Creative Corner provided a reflective close, and RoseMarie Elliott inspired attendees through her poem ‘A Blessing for 2026’, ensuring the evening ended on a thoughtful and uplifting note.

The second half of the evening was guided by first time Topicmaster Caroline Carey Finn, who posed reflective and fun topics to support members practising off the cuff speaking.

The next Mullingar Toastmasters is this Thursday, January 22, at 8pm in the Greville Arms Hotel, where the club will collaborate with the Mullingar Inklings Creative Writing Group, for an entertaining evening of tall tales, lies, and deceit! It is set to be a night of creativity and storytelling not to be missed.