Report by: KEVIN WALSH
On the evening of Tuesday, November 28th, Fermoy Toastmasters gathered in the ever warmly welcoming local Youth Centre for our penultimate meeting of the current year and season. On our way in the town looked wonderful bathed in festive brightness and colour, the majestic bridge draped with ivory lights reflected serenely in the dark waters was a truly most impressive sight. It was still November but the glow of approaching Christmas had already arrived and it felt very nice and pleasant indeed, enhancing the sense of anticipation of our meeting ahead.
As always proceedings began promptly at 8.15 pm for starting on time ensures that everything is concluded with equal precision two hours later: this is an essential part of what we do. When meetings are run efficiently and to time everyone goes away with a light and relaxed feeling. Our President Kevin O’Neill sounded the gavel and extended cordial greetings and good wishes to all, control was then passed to Michelle O’Brien who as Toastmaster or chairperson for the evening introduced the speakers and participants and who adroitly and gracefully ensured the smooth and seamless continuity from one phase to the next in a free flowing, gentle and most effective way. Chairing a meeting well is an accomplished art and Michelle showcased then at its very best.
With wry humour and ever winning enthusiasm Michael Sheehan led the way in two excellent topics sessions, the first in the earlier stage of the meeting and the second following just after the tea break. This is where everyone gets a chance to become involved and make their contribution, tapping into the creative energies, talents and insights of the gathering which is ever so stimulating and refreshing. An interesting, humorous and thoughtful selection of themes were set before us with the initial respondent asked to speak impromptu for up to two minutes to be followed by one minute add-ons. For instance, Padraig Murphy gave a very fine contribution on Ireland’s recent failure to win the hosting of the 2023 World Cup which he said represented a failure of imagination and nerve by the international governing body of the sport for if this country had been given the chance there is no doubt we would have risen to the occasion and turned in something innovative and exciting. Another topic concerned the highlights of 2017 with a particularly lovely response from Fanahan Colbert describing a renewed sense of activity around the town as we put the dark recessionary years behind us combined with a very warm spirit of looking forward to Christmas. Our tea and coffee break was enhanced by a delicious apple tart flavoured with cloves so kindly and generously baked for us all by Eilish Ui Bhriain.
Three prepared speeches then followed. David Walsh gave a very thoughtful and well-researched talk on the ever worsening lack of vocations to the priesthood in the Catholic Church. While the bishops fail to address the issue, there is a growing certainty that in the next decade the celebration of the Eucharist will disappear from the lives of many of the faithful. He went on to say that this represents a huge wake-up call for the Church and that any institution which fails to change and adapt is certain to wither and fail. There is an urgent need to widen the base of potential new labourers to the Lord’s harvest with the need to urgently consider the eligibility of married men and women for ordination. But striking a note of uplifting Christian hope, David concluded that we all have the power within us to do good and to show compassion, quoting John F. Kennedy that the work of God on earth must truly be our own. Delivered with poise and conviction, this speech was well received and liked by the audience, a sentiment echoed by Evaluator Jerry Hennessy who added that we would all to enjoy the pleasure of hearing David’s speeches more often.
Our Meetings Organiser, John Sherlock, took us on a journey back to the beginning of the 19th century , a world of oral tradition and horse-transport, a dark and difficult time in Ireland, when in the foothills of the Knockmealdowns a remarkable woman emerged named Mary Hanigan, of striking physical strength and virility, who loved and lived with intense passion, acquiring the nickname of Petticoat Loose after a dance where her skirt had snagged on a protruding nail but she kept spinning regardless around the floor with her petticoat flying. Both admired and feared, her tempestuous life came to a sudden end when she collapsed and died after an epic drinking bout. However not even the chains of death could hold her for she returned as a terrifying ghost haunting the bleak mountain roads, boarding any passing cart and weighing it down until the unfortunate horse perished between the shafts. A priest eventually banished this baleful spectre to the bottom of Baylough, that dark lake nestling in the cup of the mountains where legend has it she remains for all eternity trying to drain its waters with a thimble. Winter is the time for ghost stories and John told it with notable aplomb and style, for which he was warmly lauded by evaluator John Quirke. Perhaps the true significance of the tale has little enough to do with witchcraft and the supernatural but reflects the age-old masculine fear of the strong and determined woman.
Our third speech was a most welcome Icebreaker from Derek Noonan who painted a lovely and most engaging portrait of his life thus far, recalling his childhood in his native Castletownroche, evoking all the activities of the thriving family business, his great love of Gaelic games and of the countryside and nature. Inheritance opened up a life dedicated to farming which he finds immensely fulfilling and rewarding. Married to Aine and with two cherished sons and finding in his devotion to the Catholic faith a great source of strength and inspiration, Derek told us of a life filled with traditional values and shaped by a great sense of belonging to community combined with the wonder of knowledge and discovery, indeed beginning his talk with an invitation to us to imagine that the sun is over a million times larger than our planet Earth. Evaluator Frank O’Driscoll congratulated Derek on his very fine Icebreaker and the authenticity and rootedness that pervaded it and wished him well in what he is certain will be a great future in Toastmasters.
Fanahan Colbert as General Evaluator then gave his overall assessment of what had been a memorably enjoyable and successful meeting, with Derek making such a very fine debut and a number of very welcome guests joining in our celebration of life in all its richness and variety together with the joys of friendship. And now we look to our annual Tall Tales and Christmas party night which will be held on this coming Tuesday, December 12th, at 8.15 pm in the Youth Centre until around 9.30, when we shall then adjourn to the Grand Hotel for party food and a convivial gathering. Have your favourite Party Piece ready! For further information, please contact Mary Whelan at 087 7971006 or Kevin Walsh at 058 60100 or log on to our mobile-friendly website toastmastersfermoy.com or find us on Twitter @ FermoyT.