GO Panel Manifesto: Fight for the Write!
We will empower young writers on the island of Ireland and nurture their creative self-expression, especially as they grow up with decreasing opportunities to do creative things. We will connect up young writers and provide a supportive, positive atmosphere that protects creative headspace, where everyone can be different, can be themselves; where success is not academic or economic, but on their own individual terms; where creative writing is not just a dream or a fantasy but an enriching, empowering and important path through life.
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Kaila Patterson, Belfast. Member of Fighting Words NI Write Club and Young Playwrights (Spring 2022). Writer of novels and plays with a bit of poetry. Hopes to support Fighting Words and encourage young people to get creative and use their voice – on the page, stage, and to create change. |
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Patrick Maginnis, Co. Down. Member of Fighting Words NI Write Club for over two years. Enjoys writing poetry but loves short prose and is working through a science-fiction novel. Hopes to ensure that writing is available to anybody who wants it- all people from every generation have ‘the write to right’. |
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Michael Corbett, Co. Cork. I'm excited to be a part of this. I'm fairly new to fighting words. I was published in the Irish Times Supplement this year. I have a lifelong passion for writing and hope to pursue English in college next year! I usually write short stories |
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Éire Ní Fhaoláin, Wexford. Táim sa chúigiú bliain i Meánscoil Gharman. I write in Irish and English in Write Club and have been published in a literary magazine and with Fighting Words. I want to encourage young writers to involve the Irish language in their creative work. Tá an-sceitimíní orm a bheith mar chuid de Ghuthanna Óga le Fighting Words. |
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Eabha, Dublin. I've loved writing for as long as I can remember and have been involved with Fighting Words in various ways for nearly ten years, from summer camps to Write Club to co-writing a play performed in the Gate Theatre. I write prose mostly, especially short stories. Fighting Words has given me so much over the years, and I'm thrilled to have a chance to give something back. |
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Eden Byrne, Belfast. I'm a young volunteer. I have been interested in writing from a young age, especially poems and short stories. I had a poem published in a poetry collection in 2019. I hope to help make fighting words even better for the next generation of young writers. |
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Rachel, Co. Antrim. Member of Fighting Words NI Playwright Club since 2020. I have taken part in two radio play projects and have had a radio play commissioned by BBC Radio 4! I am so excited to be a member of the youth advisory panel. I hope to make writing more accessible and achievable to everyone, and help young people feel more confident in their writing. |
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Wiktoria, Dublin. Born in Kraków, Poland. I've loved writing since I was a little kid but only got involved with Fighting Words this summer when I took part in their playwriting summer camp. It was heaps of fun and I knew I found my people. I mostly write short stories about deeply flawed characters struggling to make sense of their place in the world, and I love reading just about anything that piques my interest. |
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Emily, Co. Galway. I have been a member of Fighting Words Write Club for two years. I joined two Fighting Words summer camps. Last year I won the teens category for “Poetry in Bloom” and this year I represented Ireland in a climate crisis anthology of creative writing. I mainly write poetry and would love to encourage other teens across Ireland to get creative and start writing. |
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Tara, Co. Antrim. I've been a member of Fighting Words NI Playwright Club for 3 years. I made a radio play and a play at Lyric Theatre in Belfast. I have been into creative writing since young. |
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Sean O Donnell, Co. Donegal. I have been a member of Fighting Words Write Club for 2 years. I enjoy writing short stories, especially psychological thrillers. I have been published in the Irish Times supplement as well as other publications. I have a great interest in creative writing and I would like to help others develop an interest in writing and enhance their skills. |
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Teagan Rice - Co. Antrim. I recently did my work experience with Fighting Words NI and also became a member of the Write Club, so I'm ecstatic to be a part of the Youth Advisory Panel and hopefully bring the amazing work of FWNI to a wider audience. I've always loved writing; I plan to study English in university after school and start a career in that field, particularly in the world of poetry. My favourite stories both to read and write are historical, literary, and fantasy novels! |
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Ishaan, Co Derry. I am part of Write Club. I have completed a Write Club camp on True Stories. I like to read fantasy and sci-fi novels, and I am working on a sci-fi novel myself. I hope to help young writers accomplish their writing goals in many creative ways. |
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Rachel Fleming, Kildare. In Transition Year in secondary school. She enjoys hanging out with her friends and going to the gym. She is also part of the Children’s Ombudsman Youth Advisory Panel which she really enjoys and she attends regular meetings with the group. She plans to study psychology in university once finished school. |
