Public Speaking
[highlight color=”lime-green” style=”style-1″]Photo: Katie Gallagher, Lisa McIntyre, Michelle Casey and Molly Quinlan.[/highlight]
On the 14th of November, Thursday last, the transition year students took part in a public speaking competition in the Abbey hotel, Roscommon. Prior to this wonderful event the class had been divided into different groups and were required to put a speech together. The title of which was ‘Alcohol in Ireland- Is there a problem’? One person in the group was given the role of public speaker and had to speak on behalf of the group.
Pat Conway the Co-Ordinator of the Western Region Drugs Task Force came to our school and listened to each speech along with two third year classes. He picked one person to go through to the next round. Lisa Mc Intyre, along with her team of Katie Gallagher, Michelle Casey, Molly Quinlan and Cathal Madigan, were chosen to go through, and represent St. Nathy’s College. Lisa spoke in front of an audience including six other schools who were represented with one speaker each also. The schools who participated were Elphin Secondary School, Roscommon CBS, Strokestown Secondary School, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon, Castlerea Community School, Abbey Secondary School, Boyle and St.Nathy’s College. Each school had a different topic related two alcohol and were given their speech in front of the three judges. The judges included John Waters, Fergal O’Donnell and Gillian O’Keefe.
The event started at 7.30pm and after each speech the judges gave their critique. Every speaker was very impressive and did their schools proud. Before the result was finally given John Waters, journalist with the Irish Times, spoke about how alcohol affected his life. He congratulated each speaker and said how they were very informed and articulate and it was very difficult to pick a winner. But in the end there could only be one winner. Castlerea Community School were announced the winners.
Congratulations to their speaker and her team and well done to everyone else who participated, especially our very own Lisa McIntyre who spoke eloquently and to all of her team.