Facilitation

Summer 2025, I am working as a mentor on the SOAS University Palestine Writers Workshop.

Sixteen young writers from Ballinrobe, Gaza and Cairo have come together to launch A Spinning Tyre, an anthology of work celebrating youth voices, international connection and the power of creative expression. The book emerged from a series of online and in-person writing workshops led by Liam Horan as part of the University of Limerick’s Creative Writers in the Community (CWIC) programme. Developed in partnership with the Hands Up Project – a UK-based charity that promotes connection through storytelling between young people worldwide and those in Palestine – the project sparked a collaboration across three communities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

‘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

This is how you access Liam Horan's company-wide permanent Zoom meeting room Three steps: 1: This is the passcode: 22Lounge (Copy it, you may need to paste it in Step 3 below. Or, if you prefer, write it down and type it in if

This is a discreet page to share behind-the-scenes arrangements for Words Meet Art, Culture Night, 2024. Friday Getting the exhibition ready We need volunteers at 2pm (St Joseph's Primary School) or as soon as possible after that in Ballinrobe Community School. 2pm - St