Short stories, poems, plays, creative facilitation
As part of my MA in Creative Writing Studies at University of Limerick (2023-2025), I was given the opportunity to take part in the college’s Espresso Shot of Thought series.
Thanks to Emily Cullen, the Meskell UL-Fifty Poet in Residence at the college, for inviting me to take part in the series.
Special word of gratitude too to Elaine Kiely, Oonagh Grace and Karen Byrnes for their work in editing the final version.
In my creative facilitation work, I strive to ignite a spark in groups, helping writers discover and develop their voices.
Ink & Imagination, an anthology written by students from Ballyhaunis Community School, is a project close to my heart.
Working with these young writers was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, watching them explore everything from the warmth of family ties to the complexities of adolescence. Continue reading “Creative Facilitation by Liam Horan”
Are you interested in connecting with teenagers from another part of the world, sharing stories, and creating something excitingtogether?
This project brings together young people aged 15 to 18 from Palestine, Cairo and Ireland to meet online, chat about life, and work on creative writing together – whether that’s poetry, storytelling, or responding to each other’s words. Continue reading “Voices from Palestine and Ireland – a collaboration”
A Culture Night event in Ballinrobe is set to be a major celebration of creativity, with 48 confirmed participants for a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the dynamic relationship between words and images.
This collaborative project will showcase the talents of 24 visual artists and 24 writers, coming together to create something truly original. The event will take place on Friday, 20 September, in Ballinrobe Community School from 7-9pm, in a room adjacent to the school’s main auditorium, where the town’s annual Culture Night celebration of music, song, dance, and food will also be held.
Continue reading “48 artists and writers to participate in Ballinrobe Culture Night event”
This year’s Culture Night in Ballinrobe will include an exciting experiment in creativity, as writers and visual artists come together for a groundbreaking exhibition exploring the dynamic relationship between words and images. Scheduled for Friday, 20 September, this collaborative project is an opportunity for visual artists and writers – whether professional, amateur or hobbyist – to join forces and create something truly original.
The concept is simple yet powerful: a visual artist will provide a piece of work to a writer, who will respond through their writing. This dialogue between different forms of expression is the heart of the experiment. The 20 September exhibition will feature each piece of art and the written response for each one.
Continue reading “Artists and writers unite for Culture Night in Ballinrobe”
Ink & Imagination is a powerful collection of poems, short stories, and songs crafted by 20 talented students from Ballyhaunis Community School. The book emerged as part of a creative writing project that I facilitated, aiming to give young writers the space to explore and express their unique perspectives on life, family, and personal growth.
In a series of workshops, students delved into topics close to their hearts—from the appreciation of a beloved grandparent to the nuanced trials of growing up. Their work is marked by emotional depth, reflecting their individual experiences and shared insights. Throughout the project, I collaborated closely with the English department teachers, Ms. Sharon Mulroy, Ms. Danielle Coyne, and Ms. Aoife Hegarty, who have been instrumental Continue reading “Ink and Imagination”
‘I really enjoyed the writers’ club as it really helped me to develop my writing skills further. I learned a lot of new things and I had good fun doing it!’ – Éala Greally.
‘Through this group I’ve been able to get tips about my writing style and techniques from an actual author, resulting in the publication of one of my stories. This was an amazing
experience’ – Emma O’Brien.
A safe and supportive environment: My priority is to create a space where all participants feel safe, valued, and encouraged to express themselves as they wish.
Communicate transparently with all involved: In the event that any concerns arise regarding the content or nature of participants’ work, I engage with educators or relevant people to ensure open, respectful communication.
Maintain clear communication protocols: To promote clarity and professionalism, I establish a clear communication protocol with all participants. This allows for constructive
and organised interactions.
Encourage participants’ identities as writers: I am committed to nurturing participants’
self-identification as writers. From the outset, I encourage everyone to embrace this
identity, referring to them interchangeably as both “students” and “writers” to reinforce
their role as creative contributors.
You are a writer – tell yourself, I am a writer
Tonight on RTÉ 2, you can see the first matches being showcased with a plethora of new rules. On RTE Radio One’s Countrywide programme, I expressed fear about the unintended consequences of fixing Gaelic football.