According to research commissioned by the Broadcast Institute and conducted by Amárach Research, 30 per cent of respondents said their greatest fear is public speaking — the same proportion who named death. Only heights scored higher, with 31 per cent saying tall structures are what frighten them most.
Among younger adults, the fear of speaking in front of others is even more pronounced. Almost half of those aged 18 to 24 said they are as afraid of giving a speech as they are of dying.
Failure was listed as the next most common fear, chosen by 25 per cent of those surveyed.
Commenting on the results, Paul Connolly of the Broadcast Institute said the findings highlight a powerful truth about modern anxieties. “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.”
He suggested that this could reflect a uniquely Irish tendency to avoid attention. “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.”
Connolly added that in an era of constant scrutiny, self-consciousness is more common than ever. “In a world where we’re always being watched, rated, recorded and replayed, the idea of being visibly human feels terrifying.”
As a communications coach, Connolly said he sees this fear firsthand. “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.”
He concluded that the research raises deeper questions. “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?”
