Rochfortbridge students in Leinster final of Soroptimist speaking competition

Students from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Juliet Bernard and Lauren Roca, represented Mullingar, having made it through the local round last November, at the Leinster final of the Soroptimist Public Speaking competition in Drogheda on Saturday January 27.

The girls had a brilliant experience in a competition of extremely high standards. There were eight speakers in total and each gave a pre-prepared speech of six minutes followed by an impromptu competition, where the girls were challenged to speak on a topic for two minutes.

The girls represented themselves, their school and their locality superbly and were definitely in the running to place. Unfortunately, it was not to be their day, but they left having gained a huge amount from the experience and with a conviction to enter again next year.

The competition is a brilliant way for young girls to find their voice and to use it to educate others on topics they feel passionately about.

Juliet and Lauren would like to thank the Mullingar branch of Toastmasters, who invited them to their January meeting as special guests and who gave them a unique opportunity to give their speeches and to receive feedback which really helped them in the competition.

They would also like to thank the Mullingar Soroptimist ladies who have supported them through every stage of the competition and who work tirelessly to ensure that young ladies get opportunities such as these which will stay with them for life.

Juliet and Lauren also spoke at the last meeting of Mullingar Toastmasters (see page 22).