Three Mayo Secondary Schools took part in the Mayo Final of the Mental Health Association public speaking Project 2011, at the Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar on Wednesday 2nd February where there was a good turn of pupils, teachers, parents and members of the public.
St Josephs Secondary School Castlebar, emerged as the winners after an evening of very high standard public speaking with each team, consisting of three members and a substitute, speaking on a mental health related topic for seven minutes each.

The winning team consisting of Aoife Walsh, Chloe Regan and Clodagh McDermott spoke on the topic “Is there a formula for contented living” The substitute was Maria Janjun and the team tutor was Fionnuala Conway

The public speaking project is one of a number of educational programmes undertaken by Mayo Mental Health Association who organised the event locally and who have been recently honoured by being named the winners of the Mayo Meitheal award 2011 by the Mayo Association in Dublin.

The aim of the public speaking project is to create awareness among young people about mental health topics and to break down many of the prejudices that still exist in relation to mental illness.  It is also hoped the project will help to build self esteem and confidence among the young people who participated and assist in their own self-development.

“We find young people have a very open mind when it comes to discussing mental health issues  and maybe not as biased or judgemental when it comes to talking about mental illness,” said P. J. Murphy, Chairman of Mayo Mental Health Association, who was MC on the evening.

He said the adjudicators had a very difficult task in selecting a team from the three schools and once again he praised and thanked the pupils, teachers and parents for their support of the project, which has now been running for some thirty years in Mayo.

The Castlebar school competed against St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Charlestown and St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford.

The Charlestown School, consisting of Aisling Murphy, Rebecca Conway, Sarah Ruane and Emma McDonnell, were tutored by Stacey Walsh-McDermott, while representing St Josephs of Foxford were Mark Langan, Caroline Folan, Niamh McDonnell and Jessica Tighe. Their tutor was Dara McMenamon.

The winners go on to a regional final and eventually the project ends in an all Ireland final in Trinity College Dublin.

Mr Eamonn Glancy, Allied Irish Banks presented the trophies to the winners and runners up on behalf of the sponsors.

Three Mayo schools have won the all-Ireland in the past - St Patrick’s Academy, Islandeady, Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh and St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar.