Pictured at the EU Direct Centre NW Soapbox event in Letterkenny is (l-r) 2012 Soapbox winner Claire McCormick from Letterkenny, a student at the Margot Keegan School of Speech and Drama; EU Direct Information Centre NW Manager, Helen McNutt and Soapbox runner-up Emma Rose Callaghan from Burt, a student of the Karen Murphy School of Speech, Drama and Communications.
SIXTEEN-year old Claire McCormick from Letterkenny, a student at the Margot Keegan School of Speech and Drama, impressed judges and won the EU Direct Information Centre’s 2012 Soapbox regional final at Central Library, Letterkenny.
Delivering a refined, tightly scripted three-minute soapbox address on the motion ‘youth is wasted on the young’, Claire agreed with the motion, declaring, “Since the millennium 10-year olds go to restaurants looking for wifi not colouring books.”
The 5th year Loreto Letterkenny student beat off stiff competition from 15 competitors of all ages and professions from across counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.
Chairman of the judging committee Cllr. Patrick McGowan and head of the Irish Delegation to The EU Committee of the Regions, described Claire’s soapbox as “articulate, inspiring and delivered with complete composure and passion.”
Claire delivered an impassioned speech declaring, “Today, many young people are in a race to grow up. They see youth as a burden not a prize. Ten year olds want to be twelve, thirteen year olds want to be fifteen, sixteen year olds want to be twenty-one. And ladies and gentlemen it all stops at twenty-nine. Nobody wants to be thirty. Youth has passed them by without them even noticing and they will now spend the rest of their adult lives buying the latest anti-aging products trying desperately to look and feel younger.”
Fifteen-year old Emma Rose Callaghan from Burt and a 3rd year student at Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, was runner-up with a dynamic, interactive and solid soapbox address. Emma Rose who is a student of the Karen Murphy School of Speech, Drama and Communications disagreed with the motion declaring that, “youth have the will to discover the world and we will live while we’re young.”
EU Direct Information Centre NW Manager, Helen McNutt thanked all participants “for making the 2012 EU Direct Centre soapbox event one that challenged, entertained and enthused the large audience of up to 80 people who came along. I also want to thank our judges Katie Molloy, Donegal Youth Council; Marie Duffy, spunout.ie; Dearbhla Kelly, Donegal VEC and Toastmasters and Cllr. Patrick McGowan. A stalwart job was done by Highland Radio’s Donal Kavanagh who kept the evening moving and who did a superb job as MC. We were also delighted to have in our audience a visiting delegation from Lough Allen College in Co. Leitrim who are current title holders of the All Ireland Mental Health Public Speaking Award.”
Claire was presented with an Apple iPAD sponsored by the EU Commission’s representation in Ireland and a trip for two to the European Parliament in Brussels sponsored by MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher. She will also represent the North West in the national Soapbox final in Farmleigh on 20th November with a chance to scoop a €1,000 prize.
Emma Rose was presented with €100 Shop LK Vouchers which were partly sponsored by Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce.
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