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Gerard Mannix (Contest Chair) Michael Collins (Shannon TM) Mairead Dillon (Club Growth Director District 71) James Finnegan (Division Director) Anthony Garvey (Chief Judge)
By James Finnegan
THE Path to The World Championship of Public Speaking came via Tralee last Saturday where the best of this region’s Toastmasters competed in the Division Final of the Toastmaster International Speech Contest and the Evaluation Contest, which tests the contestants’ listening and feedback skills.
This year is a particularly notable occasion as 2024 is the Centenary of the founding of Toastmasters International.
This Division Final was held under the auspices of Contest Chair Gerard Mannix DTM, Chief Judge Anthony Garvey DTM, and DivisionB Director James Finnegan.at St Brendans Parochial Centre, the home of Tralee Toastmasters.
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District 71 (UK and Ireland) Club Growth Director Mairead Dillon was also present on behalf of Toastmasters International.
First, in an eclectic combination of speech styles and subject matter came the International Speech Contest. Competitors spoke for between five to seven minutes on a speech chosen and written by themselves
In what was an extremely tight result, the final placings were Larry Lyons (Roscrea) in 3rd, Anne Hannan (Killarney) in 2nd and in first place Michael Collins (Shannon).
In the Evaluation Contest, a specific bespoke speech was delivered by notable Toastmaster Sean Lyons entitled “Every Story is a Picture”, and each contestant delivered a two to three minute critique.
In another very close result, 3rd was Helsa Giles (Speak Easy), 2nd was Vicky McCarthy (Tralee) and first again was Michael Collins (Shannon) in a notable double.
Michael now goes forward to the District 71 (UK and Ireland) Finals in Portlaoise on 10-12th of May.
There was universal praise for the organisation of this event, the quality of the completion and the warmth of the welcome to all attendees.
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