Niamh talks her way in to public speaking final

Niamh talks her way in to public speaking final

13 February 2013

DOWNPATRICK schoolgirl Niamh McGrattan has won through to the final of Soroptimist International’s annual youth public speaking competition.

Niamh, a student at Assumption Grammar School, took one of the 14 places in the final when she won the heat hosted by the Downpatrick Soroptimist Club.

The competition is open to female year 12 and 13 pupils from Northern Ireland who are in full-time education. Niamh earned her place with a speech on the topic: ‘Stress: We have only ourselves to blame.’

The annual competition attracts around 100 entries every year and this year’s final in the Great Hall of Magee Campus will be held on Saturday, February 23.

The winner will receive the Soroptimist Youth Award Perpetual Salver, donated by Oneida Silversmiths, a replica award, a bursary of £250 towards her education, the chance to deliver a speech at the Soroptimist International joint North/South conference in the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle, between May 17 and 19 this year and her school will also receive a monetary award.