JCI Limerick Supports JCI Galway at Public Speaking & Debating Event

Five members of JCI Limerick travelled to Galway this week to participate in a dynamic Public Speaking and Debating Workshop hosted by JCI Galway, with keynote facilitation by Dean Swift, President of JCI Ireland. Our attendance reflects JCI Limerick’s commitment to supporting fellow chapters and strengthening collaboration across the national network.

The event took place at the Treebark Store venue with a unique entrepreneurial story. Attendees heard directly from the owners about how the business was saved from closure — thanks in part to the influence and encouragement of JCI Galway. It was an inspiring reminder of the impact JCI can have on local enterprise and community resilience.

The workshop opened with an introduction to extempore speaking, a Latin‑derived term meaning speaking without preparation. Each participant was given a topic, allowed fifteen seconds to gather their thoughts, and then delivered a one‑minute speech. The exercise challenged everyone to think quickly, speak clearly, and embrace the discomfort of spontaneous communication. The improvement from the first round to the last was visible, and the supportive feedback from both the audience and Dean Swift made the learning experience even stronger.

After a short break, the session transitioned into a structured debating workshop. Dean explained the rules, best practices, and common pitfalls of competitive debating, offering insights drawn from national and international JCI competitions. Participants were divided into balanced teams, ensuring representation from both JCI Limerick and JCI Galway. The motions ranged from serious global issues to light‑hearted topics, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere. The debating exercise highlighted how personal beliefs, emotions, and values influence delivery — and how challenging it can be to argue for a position you do not personally support. Dean emphasised that in competitive debating, teams are often assigned motions that may not align with their political, cultural, or social views. The skill lies in how convincingly you can construct and deliver the argument, regardless of personal stance.

JCI Limerick would like to highlight the outstanding contributions of several members who participated for the first time:

Matheus Nascimento, originally from Brazil and with an engineering background, delivered an exceptionally passionate performance. Whether he agreed with the motion or not, his energy and clarity stood out. Remarkably, this was his first time attending a JCI event — and he travelled over an hour and a half from Limerick to take part. We are delighted to welcome him as a new member of JCI Limerick.

 Przemysław Daniel Faliński, from Poland, demonstrated strong leadership within his debating team and delivered confident, well‑structured contributions. His knowledge and analytical approach added depth to the discussions and strengthened his team’s performance.

 Ibtissam Asterini Ourika, originally from Greece, continues to show exceptional commitment to JCI Limerick. During the debating session, she served as team leader and delivered a passionate argument grounded in personal experience. Her ability to connect emotionally with the topic earned her significant recognition on the day.

With emerging talent like Matheus, Przemysław, and Ibtissam, JCI Limerick sees strong potential for future participation in both public speaking and debating competitions at national level.

JCI Limerick President Denis Hardi and Secretary Barbara Malesic also attended the event to support the team and strengthen ties between the neighboring chapters. Galway and Limerick share a natural regional connection, and events like this reinforce the value of collaboration, shared learning, and mutual support within JCI Ireland.

A special thanks goes to JCI Galway for hosting the workshop and for their warm hospitality. We also extend our appreciation to Dominic Whelan, a long‑standing JCI Galway member since 2013, who shared his entrepreneurial journey. Dominic spoke about how his involvement in JCI gave him the confidence to take over a business that was about to close — a decision that shaped his professional path. As he put it, “If it weren’t for JCI Galway, I wouldn’t have had the courage to take on that challenge.”