The Writing Home Initiative by Poetry Ireland is a specially developed programme of creative engagement supporting the wellbeing of residents of homeless shelters as they underwent Covid restrictions during the winter months of the first two years of the pandemic.
Its aim is to use writing and spoken word to provide a valuable, authentic and apolitical insight into life in these facilities, that readers from all walks of life can engage with and learn from. Workshops facilitated by poet Colm Keegan.
Dublin City Council, with the support of the Heritage Council and Creative Ireland, delivered a Community Archaeology Programme in St. Anne's Park.
The programme has included events in the park and online, designed for both adults and children and coordinated by a team of professional archaeologists from Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd. It is steered by the Dublin City Council Heritage, Archaeology and Parks teams.
This video celebrates the participation of the local community at various events organised by Dublin City Council for the St. Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Programme 2022, including Dublin City’s first community excavation to uncover part of St. Anne’s mansion.
'I wanted to do something that is meaningful, and also to celebrate the great universe of Irish writers.'
In February 2018, Sebastian Barry was announced The Laureate For Irish Fiction 2018–2021. Watch as Sebastian reflects back on the experience and his public programme during his first year; celebrating the golden age of writers and readers.
The Laureate for Irish Fiction is an initiative of the Arts Council in partnership with University College Dublin and New York University.
An exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of Fingal County Council Municipal Art Collection
Young men get into fights .. that's nothing new ... Young men get into scrapes, of course they do ... a fight with the mrs, a fight with the memory, a fight with a friend, a fight with a family, a fight with a wallet, a fight with the economy, a fight with the state ... a fight for fight's sake .. young men get into fights 'cause they've nowhere to go .. people often fight because they've lost their home ..'
Shaun has been collaborating with local man Pat Farrell on a men's meditation group here in Draiocht while also visiting and getting to know the Mulhuddart Men's Shed. His text is inspired by both engagements and features Pat who performs alongside him. The excerpt you're going to hear tonight hopes to become part of an ongoing collaboration between Shaun and Pat, looking at issues surrounding masculinity and growing older. Shaun would like to thank the Mulhuddart Men's Shed especially for their conversation, wisdom, tea and wood-shop skills.
Shaun Dunne - Menitation
Written and performed by Shaun Dunne, featuring Pat Farrell, in response to Shaun's work with Pat Farrell and with the Mulhuddart Men's Shed. Commissioned by Draíocht, with support from Creative Ireland's National Creativity Fund, and funding from Fingal County Council.
FeliSpeaks -The Powder Room
Written and performed by FeliSpeaks in response to her work with Umunwanyi Olaedo - Igbo Union Women Wing and D15 Women. Commissioned by Draíocht, with support from Creative Ireland's National Creativity Fund, and funding from Fingal County Council.
“I worked with a handful of ladies from Olaedo, Igbo Women's Union - as well as a separate group of interesting women from D15 - I had the pleasure of working with these two groups of women that reflect monumental parts of who I am as a Irish-Nigerian living in Ireland. They gave me the chance to see women in several onion layers through the power of listening and the gift of art; for that I am eternally grateful. I hope I was able to impact them as much as they did, me." Felicia
Junk Ensemble - Mandatory 8-Count
Written and performed by Megan Kennedy & Jessica Kennedy of Junk Ensemble in response to their work with 5 Girls from Mulhuddart Boxing Academy. Commissioned by Draíocht, with support from Creative Ireland's National Creativity Fund, and funding from Fingal County Council.
Filmed and Edited by Arcade Film.
Music composition: Denis Clohessy
“A few of the girls discovered their love of boxing through their father’s love of it. They wrote about the smells and sounds ... One had her nose broken in a fight. We worked in groups in the boxing ring, where they created their own dances in trios and pairs. We also had an exercise/task which consisted of deconstructed boxing and training movements – one example of this was: working individually with their favourite boxing footwork movement and then we removed the arm movements entirely. They also did their favourite upper body boxing movement and then we removed the lower body from the movement. It was fascinating to watch the groups perform these displaced boxing movements in the atmospheric surrounds of the boxing club, with swinging punching bags and boxing posters and training equipment in the background.
The girls live in and around Blanchardstown and Kildare. Their age group ranged from 13-16 years. Chloe is the current European champion for her age and Sophie was on the National Irish boxing team last year.”
“Working with this young men’s rap and spoken word group (ages 13-18 yrs), from Foróige, has been a revelation. I felt inspired and educated. I learned so much from them about Blanchardstown, language, and what it means to become a man in 21st Century Ireland.” Colm Keegan
