Irish people fear public speaking as much as death, survey shows

Eva Osborne

Irish people fear public speaking just as much as they fear death, according to a survey commissioned by the Broadcast Institute.

The 1,000-person poll, conducted by Amárach Research, revealed that 30 per cent of Irish people said their biggest fear is public speaking, the same proportion who said their biggest fear is death.

The only thing that scares Irish people more than public speaking and death is heights (at 31 per cent). 25 per cent said their biggest fear is failure.

Almost half of people aged 18 to 24 are as afraid of giving a speech as they are of dying.

Taking to social media to comment on the survey results, Paul Connolly of the Broadcast Institute said: "It’s extraordinary when you think about it. Our greatest fears aren’t about physical harm - they’re about perception.

"About how we’re seen, judged, and remembered. What does that say about us?

"Maybe it speaks to something deeply Irish - our instinct to play things down, to avoid “getting notions,” to keep the head down rather than risk embarrassment… or maybe it’s just modern life.

"In a world where we’re always being watched, rated, recorded and replayed, the idea of being visibly human feels terrifying."

Connolly said he sees this fear play out every day as a communications coach.

"I've worked with politicians who’ve walked into war zones and CEOs who handle crises worth millions.

"They call me, not because they can’t handle pressure, but because they can’t quite get through their next quarterly presentation without that sinking feeling in their chest.

"This research, like most good research, raises more questions than answers. Why do we communicate the way we do? Why is our instinct still to fear the spotlight? Even when it’s the best place to share what we know?"