Who are we?
Guthanna Óga - Young Voices is the youth advisory panel for Fighting Words and Fighting Words Northern Ireland. These young people are the most important advisors to our staff and board, not only because they are responsible for bringing the voices of young people into a room of adults, but also because they are our only official panel that spans the whole island of Ireland. Guthanna Óga - Young Voices brings together the perspectives and experiences from all of Fighting Words centres.
Guthanna Óga 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."
Meet the 2025 Panel:
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Ben Carey, 16, Dublin Hi, I'm Ben Carey. I am 16 years old and 17 in a month's time. I go to the gym sometimes and I like to go to Poppintree youth club where we do rugby and others do music and MMA. We did that for 4 weeks. I hope that the youth advisory panel empowers young voices, that drives community change and influencing policy and inspiring writers for lasting a local island wide impact. |
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Caragh Skillen, 15, Antrim Hello, my name is Caragh and I am one of the few members of the Youth Advisory Panel. I enjoy reading fantasy and horror books, I also like to write fantasy novels and hope to make them into comics in the future. I hope that with this panel we can inspire the youth to read and write more. |
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Carrie Magee, 14, Antrim I like to write and illustrate my own stories, inspired by everything (and everyone) from those hidden in museums to those met on casual walks! I hope that Fighting Words will continue to share and cultivate the brilliant gift of creativity and enable young writers from all over the island. |
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Eve Patterson-Byrne, 15, Down My name is Eve and I’m 15. I live in County Down and I love animals, especially dogs. I like playing Gracie Abrams on my guitar and Taylor Swift songs on the piano. I play the flute too and am studying music GCSE. I have been writing since I was little, mostly short stories and poems which were usually about animals. I love reading too; thriller, detective books, and some classics like ‘Little Women’. |
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Ishaan Thakkar, 15, Derry/Londonderry I am an anime fan, an avid reader and a young fantasy fiction writer creating intricate universes through my stories. When I am not writing, you will find me strumming on my guitar. The youth advisory panel hopes to foster a sense of community and encourage young people to share their stories through creative engagement. |
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Melanie Moran, 17, Mayo I have been a member of Write Club for four years. I love writing mystery and thriller short stories, and enjoy reading Stephen King books when I’m not writing. As part of the Youth Advisory Panel, I hope to make writing more approachable for young people and help them discover their unique and creative voice. |
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Precious Fashina, 16, Dublin Hello! I'm Precious Fashina, I'm a casual writer who enjoys writing short stories in my free time. I love expressing myself through words whether I'm just journaling or writing poems. I also love to listen to music and practice photography. I joined the youth advisory panel to have a say in the board of Fighting Words and bring a new perspective in their decision-making. |
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Ruby Moran, 15, Mayo I love to read Agatha Christie, and I write murder mystery stories. I also play rugby, enjoy drawing, and hanging out with friends. I hope this year’s panel can bring more people into the creative writing world and to inspire young people to use their voices by ensuring that there’s always space for them to be heard. |
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Ruth Edomwonyi, 16, Dublin My name is Ruth Edomwonyi. I enjoy drawing, painting, reading books, and going on walks. Walking is refreshing and often sparks inspiration for the artistic side of my brain. I mostly read fantasy books with a mix of romance. I also love listening to all kinds of music, with Mitski being one of my favorite artists. I hope that the Young Advisory panel will help amplify young voices, improving opportunities, and making decisions that positively impact both our local communities and beyond. |
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Yvonne Heneghan, 15, Mayo I’m a playwright who adores watching films and reading classics like The Iliad. I want writing to be seen as not just a hobby but also a career that any young person can aspire to and I believe that the youth advisory panel can achieve this goal. |
