With a name conjuring up
images of a breakfast toast maker I was somewhat surprised to find that Toastmasters
is a convivial gathering of people, young and not so young, all eager to
improve their communications and interpersonal skills. The occasion for my enlightenment was an open
night two weeks ago at the local Toastmasters meeting in the Carlton Abbey
Hotel. My invitation came courtesy of my
youngest son’s paramour Amanda, whom I jokingly refer to as ‘the Essex girl’. I was just one of several invitees that night
and no doubt like me they all enjoyed the experience of sharing in the delightful atmosphere which
prevailed that night in what was once the refractory of the Sisters of Mercy
convent.
The welcome greeting which
met each of the visitors that night was just the start of a genuinely friendly
encounter with a group of enthusiasts which more than anything else made for a
memorable night. The formality of the
meeting belied the friendly and cheerful atmosphere. The handing over of the gavel signifying the
passing of control of the meeting was just one of the formalities of the night,
while reference to the Sergeant at Arms conjured up images of military rather
than verbal engagements.
I could see how the well
organised Toastmasters meeting can and does help the members to build
confidence and skill in public speaking and the overall impression I came away
with is of a group engaged in a worthwhile project aimed at helping the
individual within the community.
Another open invitation
extended to the general public last week was to view the new Community College
building just beyond St. Joseph’s Terrace.
Constructed over a relatively short period of time the new college
building is a wonderful facility containing in addition to the usual classrooms
a quite enormous sports hall and a raked auditorium suitable for use for many
community related purposes. We have been
most fortunate in Athy to have so many new schools provided over the last few
years, the Community College being the third such facility to be located at the
Tomard side of town in the space of just two years. The Gael Scoil is going strong in its new
building, while St. Patrick’s Boys School is soon expected to have, in addition
to its recently opened school, a further building extension which will permit all
its pupils to be brought together on the one site.
With the opening of the Community
College I am reminded that the town got its first sports hall following the
demolition of St. John’s Hall when the former Dreamland Ballroom was purchased by
the Lions Club and the Parish of St. Michaels in the late 1970s. Since then the local Gaelic Football Club
opened its own sports hall in the mid 1980s, while Ardscoil na Tríonóide had a
sports hall provided a few years ago.
The young people of the area are now literally spoiled for choice when
it comes to indoor sports facilities.
Hopefully those in charge of these halls can agree on a user plan which
will help maximise the benefits to the local people while ensuring that each sports
hall is used to the best advantage of students, members and the local community
at large.
Paud O’Connor, whose
photographic shop in what used to be Granny Evans house in Offaly Street,
continues to display an ever changing array of interesting old
photographs. One such photograph is that
of a Kildoon Gaelic Football team of the 1940s.
Five of the players have been identified and as numbered are:- (1) Jack Nolan, (2) Mike Carroll, (3) Patsy
Farrell, (4) Matty McCormack and (5) Jim Deering. Patsy Farrell who died over 20 years ago was
a grand uncle of Dessie Farrell, the former Dublin footballer who now leads the
Gaelic Players Association. Can anyone
name the other members of the Kildoon team of 65 years or so ago?
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