Dublin City University

Fighting Words Partnership with Dublin City University

In September 2019 a partnership between Fighting Words and Dublin City University's Institute of Education was launched. This formalises a longstanding connection between Fighting Words and Dublin City University, with whom we have collaborated on a number of projects already, including Dublin in the Coming Times. Building on an Evaluation of the Fighting Words Model, carried out by researchers at the Institute of Education, this partnership has been established to explore ways to integrate the Fighting Words model at all levels of teacher eduction. Funded by the Department of Education and Skills, there is a full-time Fighting Words Fellow based on the campus, working with academic staff across a variety of disciplines.

Roddy Doyle: Fighting Words Lecture at Newcastle University

Fighting Words co-founder Roddy Doyle delivered the following lecture about Fighting Words at Newcastle University.

About a year ago, I sat on the floor in the back of a room called Fighting Words, and watched a class of 9-year-old girls as they wrote a story, together. They sat on little beanbags, in front of a big screen. The screen was blank.

-What do all good stories have? the adult standing in front of them asked.

The answers flew at her.

-Characters!

-Things that are funny!

The Art of Divergence

DCU's Neurodivergent Society Creative Collection

For eighteen months, Fighting Words mentors have worked with writers from the DCU Neurodivergent Society, engaging with them online at regular writing sessions. We are delighted to launch a collection of their work: The Art of Divergence - DCU's Neurodivergent Society Creative Collection.

The launch event on 25 March 2021 is the presentation of work created with the Neurodivergent Society as part of DCU’s autism friendly initiative.We are delighted to now share their writing - prose, poetry and songs - as part the Society's week long festival of activities at DCU.

Fighting Words and Early Years Drama Education

Fighting Words partnered with Dr Una McCabe and her third year Drama and Early Education student teachers from the Institute of Education to facilitate a workshop for Junior Infants from Grace Park Educate Together National School. The Junior Infants children spent the first park of the workshop working with Fighting Words volunteers to create their own characters for a picture book, The Dragon and the Witch.

Intergenerational Workshops at DCU

Second year students from Gaelcholáiste Reachrann joined members of Dublin City Council's North Central Area Age Friendly Alliance for a variety of intergenerational workshops on the All Hallow's Campus at DCU. A partnership between DCU's Institute of Education, Silverthread, Making Hay Reminiscence Theatre Company and Dublin City Council, intergenerational workshops in art, music and creative writing were held, with participants sharing their work at the end of the event.

Nursing Students at DCU Write about their Work

As part of their Humanities and Health Module, a number of 2nd year nursing students at Dublin City University completed a series of creative writing workshops.

The students in the group wrote short stories, poems, comic strips and songs related to the course themes.

A reading and presentation of this work took place on Monday 15 April.

Fighting Words at DCU's 'Anam Festival'

Fighting Words hosted a lunchtime reading as part of DCU's 2019 Anam Festival. The event took place on the All hallow's campus, and featured readings, performances and songs.

Work created through the Fighting Words Young Playwrights programme in partnership with the Abbey Theatre was featured, along with songs written as part of a collaboration between students from St Aidan's CBS with DCU's Age Friendly University initiative.

Visual Voices at DCU's Anam Festival

Visual Voices, an exhibition of photography and writing created as part of the DCU University of Sanctuary's MELLIE storytelling project, was launched this morning. Kicking off the Anam Festival, the work exhibited has resulted from a series of meetings between refugees and asylum seekers living in Direct Provision, DCU staff and students and Fighting Words volunteers.

Fighting Words and Science Education

Partnering with Science Educators at Dublin City University, Fighting Words ran workshop with 5th year students from Scoil Chaitríona that focused on imagining the future. Stories created included ideas about travel in the future, holiday destinations, the world of work and income, climate change and Fluffy the robot dog.

Fighting Words at the Anam Festival at DCU

Fighting Words is delighted to be participating in DCU's Anam Festival. A 'Celebration of Arts, Ideas and Creativity in North Dublin,' Anam is curated and produced by South Wind Blows.

On Thursday 4 April, a lunchtime reading event highlights some of the fantastic work created at Fighting Words, including through our partnerships with DCU and with the Abbey Theatre. This takes place between a variety of other events and performances, from concerts to workshops, panel discussions and film screenings.

The Fighting Words event is free, but ticketed. Tickets are available here.