Celebrating 35 years of Nenagh Toastmasters

Nenagh Toastmasters are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year.

The club formally became part of Toastmasters International in December 1988, when it was set up in the old O’Meara’s Hotel with the aid of the Limerick club, ably led by the late John Toomey.

The Nenagh club has had hundreds of members throughout its 35-year history with some people joining for just a short time and others for many years. The club provides a friendly and supportive learning environment for people who want to improve their communication skills.

Over the years, members have developed skills that have helped them in work, or to give a speech at something like a wedding or retirement function, and even for sad events like giving a eulogy at a funeral, where the ability to speak on behalf of the deceased, can give comfort to family and friends.

The club has also hosted many regional and national events, with the most notable being the Ireland/UK annual Toastmasters conference in 2006, which was attended by almost 400 people.

The club currently has over 30 members, who meet every second Tuesday in the Abbey Court Hotel. New members are always welcomed with open arms as they provide continuity for the future.

The club has a vibrant youth toastmasters committee and over the years several thousand Transition Year students from Nenagh have had between four and six weeks of classes in public speaking, all of which helps them in their academic life, as well as being a fun diversion from normal classes.

Toastmasters international is celebrating its 100th year anniversary this year. The organisation has spread over 140 districts through the world with over 15,000 clubs. Nenagh is one of 195 clubs in a district that comprise Ireland, Scotland and Northern England.

We are pleased to say that Nenagh is one of the higher ranked clubs in our district and our district as a whole is always in the top 10 worldwide, so we’re obviously doing something right!