Who we are

We are slowly but surely adding profiles of all our members here…

Anthony Galvin. I have been a member of Macroom Toastmasters since late 2008 and in that time I cannot believe the difference Toastmasters has made for me – I still get nervous when I have to do a presentation, or speak in front of people, but it doesn’t bother me. Toastmasters provides me with a great environment in which to practice speaking, make mistakes and realise its not the end of the world when I do screw up.

Apart from that, Macroom Toastmasters is a sound bunch of people and we always have great craic.

My name is Mark Loughrey. I joined Macroom Toastmasters in 2009 mainly in order to get over the fear of speaking in public. This is a common reason for joining Toastmasters – so you get the feeling that everyone is (or has once been) in the same boat. As a result even the most shy speaker need not feel too conspicuous. Members are free to move through the programme at their own pace and it never happens that you would be giving a speech until you (and you alone) feel ready to do so. There’s a great sense of camaraderie in Macroom Toastmasters and there’s always the feeling that everyone is rootin’ for everyone else. The more experienced members are great at guiding newcomers along and giving helpful hints and tips. The most experienced members are so well versed and articulate that you’ll feel as though you’re standing on the shoulders of giants! Come along some night and see for yourself. What have you got to lose? You can be assured of a warm welcome, a great laugh and some new friendships.

Sarah McGuinness

I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Toastmasters since March 2009.

I find every meeting absolutely fascinating.  I have learned so much on a wide variety of subjects by relishing the presentations given to the group.  I have also developed my own skills in public speaking as well as formulating speedy responses durng the topics sessions.

The timed format of the meetings really appeals to me.  Before I joined Toastmasters I must admit to having a concern that it may be full of windbags but the reality is the exact opposite with meetings following an agenda that is keenly timed.

Of course, I have to mention what a tremendously fun group the Macroom Tastmasters are.  It is no exageration to describe how some of the speeches have caused me to slap the table with fun and enjoyment.

Hi there, my name is Kris Meulemans and I joined Toastmasters in March 2010.

In my day to day job I give regular technical presentations to varied audiences.  If you think this automatically leads to being a confident presenter in all situations, think again.  Presenting on a social function or on non-technical subjects would get those all-too-well known nerves up and get the heart racing.
I started looking for a way to get more practice in public speaking outside my comfort zone.  This had to be in a friendly environment, where I’d get honest, supportive feedback.
I had heard about Toastmasters a few times before but somehow I had imagined this to be some kind of a cross between a serious business meeting with all men in suits and a very Americanis(z)ed, happy clappy motivational event.
I eventually figured out I’d better put my own pre-conceptions to the test and attended a Toastmasters meeting as a guest.  I felt immediately welcome and met a diverse group of interesting people.  Everybody was very supportive and put me immediately at ease, mentioning several times I didn’t need to speak if I didn’t want to.  With the variety of topics being presented though, I was easily drawn in to participating in the conversation and quickly started looking forward to my first speeches.
Above all, there’s lots of fun and meeting new people. And yes, I’d almost forget, there is some handclapping as well, but only in the good ‘applause’ kind of way
Trevor Mulcahy
I have been a member since Jan 07.
In that time I have gained confidence in speaking to groups of strangers and it has improved life outside of Toastmasters.
The most noticeable thing I take away from Toastmasters is the support at every meeting and the effort everyone puts in.

My name is Michael Murphy, and I have been a member of Toastmasters International since May 2009.  I believed at the time that it was important to  become comfortable at speaking in public, and in everyday conversations with people who would not be familiar to you. I was delighted to join Macroom Toastmasters.

Macroom Toastmasters has not been anything like I expected.  It is very relaxed and it really is a practice ground for someone to express themselves.  There is a very structured system of speeches which you can prepare in your own time and each of which place particular emphasis on different aspects of effective speechmaking. You might be very surprised, how much you have to say, when you sit down to think about it.

I feel Toastmasters is excellent as a practice ground for formal meetings as there are particular roles which are required for each meeting, e.g. speech evaluator, timekeeper, topicsmaster, all of which are very helpful for time management/meeting organisation.

Another great aspect of Toastmasters is a one I would not have originally thought about,you get to listen to other people’s experiences ,stories & opinons with plenty debate and humour.

John Skeates. I have been in Toastmasters about 15 years. It has been a most ejoyable experience and I have learned a great deal during that time. The experience gained has been particulary useful for me as I do a bit of part-time teaching and so, have to speak in front of others.

I would recommend Toastmasters to anyone who wants to improve their communication skills. It also has a good social dimension to it.

The commitee members for 2010/2011 are :

President: Kieran Coffey

Immediate Past President: Anthony Galvin

Vice President Education: Mark Loughrey

Vice President Membership: Trevor Mulcahy

Vice President Public Relations: Celsus O’Leary

Secretary: Kris Meulemans

Treasurer: Michael Murphy

Sergeants-at-Arms: Michael Lynch

Webmaster: Anthony Galvin