Wordsworth’s poem entitled The Daffodils is probably the one that always comes to mind in spring when the countryside is festooned with glorious trumpets of yellow. In autumn we remember Keats words, “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.” Hadn’t those poets a wonderful way of describing nature and what it meant to them? They painted pictures with words. There is a timelessness about their poems that makes them firm favourites with each succeeding generation. What a wonderful gift they were given in that they could describe, so lyrically, the beauties of nature. In a world where climate change may destroy our seasons such poems may soon be the only link we have with the seasons we once knew and loved.

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The nights are getting darker
The evenings drawing in
Winter’s just upon us
Let’s take it on the chin
Because, you see, it’s party time
When we go on the town
Dressed up for the function
In an evening suit or gown.
There’ll be toasts to the ladies
Carry on that leads to Hades
Dancing the whole night through
Votes of thanks to speakers too
Forget the cold and instead
Go out and paint the town bright red.

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What are you going to wear when giving your speech? Obviously if it is a military occasion you will be wearing your uniform while at a posh wedding you will be something glamorous if you are a woman or perhaps formal wear if you are a man. Then too if you are accepting a prize as a sportsman or woman you may be waring club gear. If, however, the occasion does not call for specific clothing there are still some things you should bear in mind. Men fare better of course because, unless they are wearing a kilt, they usually wear either a suit or flannels and a jacket. They should remember though not too wear a flamboyant tie or a t-shirt with a message because they will distract your audience from what you are saying. Don’t forget too that you should button your jacket and that your shirt shouldn’t hang out. Women speakers should be sure that their clothes are classical rather than too colourful, flamboyant or eye-catching. Nor should they wear ear rings or bracelets that jangle. It’s worth remembering too that if you are up higher than your audience it is less distracting for them if your skirt is not too short, however wonderful your legs! Remember you want your audience to concentrate on your message not your clothes.

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When you give a speech you really want to make an impression. That is why it is so important to be like a boy scout and be prepared. Your speech should have a riveting opening, a compelling message and end with a bang. It’s a real challenge to get it just right. You have to know your audience and their values. You have to know your subject well. Event he most serious subjects can benefit from some light-hearted remarks during the course of the speech. If you go to an important occasion you dress up for it. Your speech is very important so put the same work into preparing it as you would shopping for that special outfit. Like your clothes it should be a good fit for you.

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Share your enthusiasm. That’s the secret of giving a good speech. If you are a committed fisherman speak about the joys of fishing on a quiet river bank. If you are passionate about food bring that fact into your speech. No matter how shy you may be you become a different person when you are talking about something you love. You light up, you may even become emotional. So forget about talking about the International Monetary fund unless that really switches you on. Talk about what you know and enjoy.

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Guinness, they say is good for you
And for two fifty years
It’s been a staple of our lives
Whether celebrating or in tears.
Now glasses will be raised on high
By British French and Tartar
And the pubs will echo to the sound
Of a toast to a man called Arthur.
‘Cos the pint of plain is your only man
And no one can make it like he can
Smooth and dark with frothy head
The water straight from the Liffey bed
And the saddest sight of all they say
Is to see it exported from Dublin Bay.

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Who are your listeners? That’s probably the most important question any public speaker must ask him or herself. The speech they will write should depend on the answer. Whatever the topic the speech must be geared to that audience. It really helps if you know their socio economic group for instance. After all there is no point in speaking about the importance of third level education to parents who cannot afford it for their children. That is unless you can gear it to them by suggesting how they should go about getting scholarships or grants towards that education. If the people in your audience can afford expensive skiing holidays every year they won’t really be interested in how to holiday on five dollars a day. Yet even within those certain groups there are ways of making your speech more specific and more interesting to them. Take those rich holidaymakers, for instance, you might choose to speak to them about undiscovered resorts or about the value they might get from buying an apartment in a certain location. If your audience is a mixed one then you have to choose a topic that affects us all such as queuing or yawning. Before you write that speech think about your audience and gear your speech accordingly.

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75 billion dollars is a lot of money. It’s what the U.S. intelligence forces spend yearly. They say it is to work in countries such as Iran, North Korea and Russia and anywhere else that threatens the security of their country. Would such money not be better spent on peaceful initiatives in such countries?
Imagine how much good such an amount of money could do. Spent on education alone it could make a complete change in the mindset of the future generations of such countries. If it were spent on a shared basis with health authorities in these countries it would forge bonds between medical people on both sides of the divide and you are not going to fight someone who saves the life of your child through providing hospitals and medicines. If it were spent on job creation the citizens who benefited would be far less likely to want to go to war. After all the devil finds work for idle hands. Wars are caused by lack of trust and fear. 75 billion dollars would go a long way towards building up trust and alleviating such fears.

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“Never speak ill of the dead” is an old saying and one that needs to be said about Senator Ted Kennedy. During his lifetime he accomplished much for which he will quite rightly be praised. There were also times in his life when he certainly did not cover himself in glory. His opponents are already commenting on these. We should remember that he cannot be harmed by whatever is said about his past but that his family can be hurt. At a time of bereavement surely they deserve to have the person they loved praised rather than damned. Another old saying springs to mind about he who is without sin casting the first stone. Whatever about his domestic affairs there is no doubt that he was a good friend to Ireland and the Irish and he will be remembered as such and missed as such. Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a anam dhilís May he sit on the right hand of God.

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It seems a very obvious thing to say but speeches should be suitable for the occasion. Quite often, in different ways, they are not. The best man who tells smutty jokes at a wedding reception is an example in point. Weddings are usually family occasions and what the groom might think hilarious might seriously embarrass the bride’s mother on what should be a special day. A good speech then suits the audience as well as the occasion. Acronyms such as NATO are fine if your audience knows you are speaking about the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation but if you speak about FOC you may be talking about a foreign office correspondent or using the union term for Father of the Chapel. If your audience has to think about what you mean you are not succeeding as a speaker simply because they will then lose the next few sentences while they ponder your remark. Jargon is alright if your audience consists only of those who will understand it but if there are guests there it is rude to use them as they may not understand it. So whatever your topic make sure it is suitable for your audience or else you won’t be getting your message across.

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