Tipperary student goes through to the final of this prestigious public speaking competition

Ursuline Fifth Year Public Speaking star of 2024 Rosa Ryan has bagged herself a place in the All Ireland Final of the very prestigious Soroptimist Public Speaking Competition.

This long standing competition aims to promote the empowerment of women and girls through public speaking and researching and addressing issues relevant to today’s world.

She beat off some tough opponents at the Regional Final in the Riverbank Hotel, Wexford, to be selected for the National Final.

Rosa built her oration around a Nelson Mandela quote, ‘to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity,’ which was followed by a two-minute impromptu speech on the topic of Expectations.

Her success on Saturday, February 2, in Wexford, follows on from her win in November in the Europe Direct Soapbox Public Speaking Competition, where she came first in the country.

Contributed to School Days in the Tipperary Star by the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles.