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Limerick student Megan Flood runner-up in Soroptimist Girls’ Public Speaking Competition

Limerick student Megan Flood finished runner-up in the final of the Soroptimist Girls’ Public Speaking Competition 2019 last Sunday in Co. Kildare.

Limerick student Megan Flood runner-up in Soroptimist Girls’ Public Speaking Competition

Regional winners from all over the country gathered in the K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare last Sunday to battle it out in the fiercely competitive final of the Soroptimist Girls’ Public Speaking Competition 2019. 

Limerick student, Megan Flood, who studies at the Villiers School, finished runner-up, delivering an impressively strong and thought-provoking performance. Waterford student, Holly Rogan, was crowned the overall winner on the night.


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To reach Sunday’s event, the eight finalists had passed through challenging local and regional heats. This year’s competition was sponsored by HSBC for the first time and saw a total of 303 students from over 180 secondary schools around the country compete to represent their school in the final. 

Moya Murphy, National Convenor, Soroptimist International Ireland praised the high standard of this year’s participants saying: “The energy, enthusiasm and talent shown by the finalists today is a testament to the impressive candidates we saw throughout all stages of the competition. We would like to thank the participants for their dedication and effort and we hope that the experience will give them the confidence to achieve their potential and realise their aspirations in the future. We would also like to thank the teachers and schools which provide such important support to the girls and give up their time to assist them throughout the competition.”

Meanwhile, Lorraine Donnelly, Head of Global Liquidity & Cash Management Ireland at HSBC said: “HSBC is delighted to sponsor such a fantastic project which is so well-suited to our ambition to support the development of female talent. The competition gives young women the opportunity to practice and perfect the public speaking and debating skills which will serve them well in their professional and public life.”

Schools in Waterford City, Gorey, Ennis, Mullingar, Tralee, Athlone, Limerick and Swinford were represented in the final with the debaters judged on their style of delivery, presentation and knowledge demonstrated.  

While delivering speeches of six minutes, the finalists were challenged to consider matters such as the impact of global food extremes, the causes of gender inequality and the importance of education.

The winner was awarded the Perpetual Mildred O’Brien Trophy as well as an Apple iPad and a prize to the value of €1,000 for her school while all finalists were awarded a gift for themselves and their teacher.

Soroptimist International is a worldwide volunteer service organisation for business and professional women. One of the main aims of the organisation is to provide women with the opportunity to improve their lives in local communities throughout the world. Through its General (Category One) Consultative Status as a non-governmental organisation at the United Nations, Soroptimist seeks equality, peace, and international goodwill for women.

For more information on Soroptimist International, click here

For more stories featuring female empowerment, click here 

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.