News

That One Time

a graphic of frontline workers and their children Fighting Words and Fighting Words NI are honoured to share the stories, poems and illustrations included in THAT ONE TIME...an online anthology by frontline workers and their families.

The powerful and moving writing included in THAT ONE TIME...will give you a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the heroes of our communities all over the island of Ireland.

THE RIGHT TWIG: RADIO 2020

A graphic of ear lobes in different sizes and colours with the word LISTEN written above advertising The Right Twig Radio 2020 scriptwriting workshopsScriptwriting workshops for young writers

WANT TO WRITE FOR RADIO? Give it a shot...

THE RIGHT TWIG: RADIO 2020 will give 8 young people ages 14-18 the chance to write their own short radio play for broadcast, collaborating with professional directors, actors and sound designers to bring it to life.

Young Storykeepers Volume Three

a digital illustration of a boy and a girl (the boy is jumping in the air) standing in front of a red and white striped lighthouseFighting Words and Great Lighthouses of Ireland invited 7-12 year-olds to become Young Storykeepers.

Your lighthouse-inspired stories are incredible!

1,256 Super Submissions!

In May 2020, Fighting Words and Great Lighthouses of Ireland invited submissions of original writing inspired by lighthouses from young writers aged 7-12. We received stories, poems, illustrations, song lyrics and even stop-motion animations for what we call the Young Storykeepers initiative. They are simply fantastic!

Fantastic Fictions

graphic to promote Fantastic Fiction with a pencil writing on a blank bookFantastic Fictions is a showcase of work from a great partnership with Libraries NI – new writing inspired by books we love with selected primary schools across Northern Ireland. 

Fantastic Fictions invited children from Primaries 5, 6 and 7 to write short stories sparked by their favourite books, with the aim of encouraging teachers and pupils to engage with creative writing and reading. New characters, unexpected plots and surprises are anticipated and local librarians can’t wait to read and share this new writing! 

Derry pupil’s artwork illustrates hope for future in Global Writing Lockdown project

Josh Cullen, a pupil at Hollybush Primary School in Derry sitting on the floor surrounded by books7th September 2020

Eight-year-old Josh Cullen, a pupil at Hollybush Primary School in Derry is the youngest person from the island of Ireland to have his work published in a collection of global lockdown writing.   The 48-page digital book titled ‘Near and Far are all the same these days’ includes short stories, poems and drawings which capture people’s feelings and observations on lockdown and was coordinated in Northern Ireland by children’s writing centre, Fighting Words NI. 

Near and Far Are All the Same These Days

book cover for Near and Far are all the Same These DaysEarlier this year, Fighting Words and Fighting Words NI were invited by Ordskælv, our friends and sister organisation in Denmark, to take part in the Global Writing Lockdown. The project was envisioned as a way of bringing us all closer together even as we were forced to remain apart. It was an opportunity to reach out and share perspectives amidst the uncertainty and worry of the global pandemic.

We invited YOU to send in your writing about the lockdown and the response was fantastic, with submissions from all over the island of Ireland and from all ages. The anthology we present here is a wonderful, heart-warming collection of writings and stands as an emblem of the strength and solidarity to be found in writing and creative expression through this most trying year.

Launch of Young Storykeeper Volume Two!

image to promote young storykeeper volume 2.  A young boy and girl in front of a lighthouse.Young Storykeeper - Volume Two: More incredible lighthouse-inspired stories!

In May 2020, Fighting Words and Great Lighthouses of Ireland invited submissions from young writers aged 7-12 - original writing inspired by lighthouses. We received  stories, poems, illustrations, song lyrics and even stop-motion animations for what we call the Young Storykeepers initiative. They are simply fantastic!

Sent to us from every corner of the island of Ireland and beyond, the creativity has shone through and every Young Storykeeper should all be very proud!

Young Storykeepers Volume Two

image to promote young storykeeper volume 2.  A young boy and girl in front of a lighthouse.Fighting Words and Great Lighthouses of Ireland invited 7-12 year-olds to become Young Storykeepers.

Your lighthouse-inspired stories are incredible!

1,256 Super Submissions!

In May 2020, Fighting Words and Great Lighthouses of Ireland invited submissions of original writing inspired by lighthouses from young writers aged 7-12. We received stories, poems, illustrations, song lyrics and even stop-motion animations for what we call the Young Storykeepers initiative. They are simply fantastic!

Audio to 'The Race to Banana Land'

a sketch of punkey the monkey, a fictional character in the Race to Banana LandOver ninety Primary 6 students from St Patrick's and Seaview Primary Schools (North Belfast) together with children from Nettlefield and Knocknagoney Primary Schools (East Belfast) and St George's National School in Balbriggan (County Dublin) joined to hear their final composition ‘The Race to Banana Land’.  Each of the schools had contributed their own unique chapter to the adventures of a totally unforgettable character -Punkey the monkey -and his friends. 

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