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Visions & Revisions: An anthology of new writing by Junior Cycle Teachers [selected extracts]
Foreword by Sheila O'Flanagan "This unique collection of work by new writers is a testament to the power of words, taking chances and using our imaginations. Now, more than ever, we need to find our creativity, raise our voices to each other and share our experience. This collection couldn’t be more timely." POW! Portfolio of Writing Project 2019–2020 for teachers is a partnership between JCT Arts in Junior Cycle and Fighting Words. Twenty Junior Cycle teachers attended a series of workshops at Fighting Words to draft, redraft, edit and publish this collection of work. This creative writing programme offers teachers the time and space to explore and consider possibilities around the creation of portfolios across all subjects at Junior Cycle. Fighting Words is a creative writing organisation established by Roddy Doyle and Seán Love. First opened in Dublin in 2009, and now with locations across the island of Ireland, Fighting Words aims to help students of all ages to develop their writing skills and explore their love of writing. www.fightingwords.ie Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) is a dedicated continuing professional development (CPD) support service of the Department of Education and Skills. JCT aims to to support schools in their implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) through the provision of appropriate high quality CPD for school leaders and teachers, and the provision of effective teaching and learning resources. www.jct.ie
Foreword by Sheila O'Flanagan
"This unique collection of work by new writers is a testament to the power of words, taking chances and using our imaginations. Now, more than ever, we need to find our creativity, raise our voices to each other and share our experience. This collection couldn’t be more timely."
POW! Portfolio of Writing Project 2019–2020 for teachers is a partnership between JCT Arts in Junior Cycle and Fighting Words. Twenty Junior Cycle teachers attended a series of workshops at Fighting Words to draft, redraft, edit and publish this collection of work. This creative writing programme offers teachers the time and space to explore and consider possibilities around the creation of portfolios across all subjects at Junior Cycle.
Fighting Words is a creative writing organisation established by Roddy Doyle and Seán Love. First opened in Dublin in 2009, and now with locations across the island of Ireland, Fighting Words aims to help students of all ages to develop their writing skills and explore their love of writing. www.fightingwords.ie
Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) is a dedicated continuing professional development (CPD) support service of the Department of Education and Skills. JCT aims to to support schools in their implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle (2015) through the provision of appropriate high quality CPD for school leaders and teachers, and the provision of effective teaching and learning resources. www.jct.ie
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Mary-Elaine Tynan<br />
flick, he winks and is gone, leaving Sister in his wake, bustling<br />
near<strong>by</strong> with more towels to mop up the blood.<br />
<strong>An</strong>d even though he’s left me with a prolapsed womb,<br />
incontinence and a lifetime <strong>of</strong> pain; even though he has<br />
destroyed any chance I would ever have <strong>of</strong> intimacy or pleasure,<br />
it is this parting gesture that seals my fate. Whenever I will<br />
ever be tempted to throw caution to the wind, to contemplate<br />
conceiving again, I will need only summon up this memory, and<br />
I’ll freeze.<br />
The one thing that will console me for years to come is the<br />
beautiful ba<strong>by</strong> girl Alfie and I get from it. Elizabeth. Eliza Dolittle<br />
to me. My little Eliza.<br />
Even still, given the untold damage to my pelvis, my spine,<br />
my innards, the fact that I even will walk again is a miracle.<br />
My being able to dance will be my way <strong>of</strong> telling that animal<br />
that he hasn’t won. That he hasn’t determined my fate. Colonised<br />
my body.<br />
<strong>An</strong>d that I will never ever give birth to another child again<br />
as he has predicted. Ordered even. That I am prepared to go to<br />
my grave first. That will be my ultimate defiance. That defiance<br />
will be my strength.<br />
It certainly won’t hurt that I’m blessed with a husband who<br />
has easy access to doctor friends and strong painkillers.<br />
Mary-Elaine Tynan, mother <strong>of</strong> two, is an<br />
English and French teacher from Dublin<br />
who currently works in curriculum<br />
development. She is passionate about her<br />
family, literature, human rights, cycling<br />
and chocolate (although not always in<br />
that order). In her spare time Mary-Elaine<br />
makes radio documentaries for RTÉ1’s<br />
Documentary on One unit and in 2019 her<br />
documentary Finding Private Branch was a<br />
Gold Medal winner at the prestigious New<br />
York Festivals. She has written a number <strong>of</strong><br />
books, including the best-selling Life After<br />
Life: A Guildford Four Memoir. Mary-<br />
Elaine’s biggest dream is to write novels.<br />
She has almost completed her first novel<br />
Undone. This piece is an excerpt from<br />
this novel.<br />
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