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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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INNER SPACE [EXTRACT]<br />
Richard Kerins is an English and history<br />
teacher in Moyle Park College, Clondalkin.<br />
He also coaches various soccer teams in the<br />
school. In his spare time, he enjoys reading,<br />
walking his two dogs and spending time<br />
with his wife Laura and their two-yearold<br />
son, Eric. He is an avid runner and has<br />
completed numerous marathons. Richard<br />
was born and raised in inner city Dublin <strong>by</strong><br />
his inspirational mother, Adrienne, and older<br />
sister, Rachel, but is now adjusting to living<br />
the country life in Meath where the sight <strong>of</strong><br />
cows in the morning still surprises him.<br />
When I was with her, the outer space <strong>of</strong> my world melted away.<br />
For those few hours, we just were.<br />
The present <strong>of</strong> her presence.<br />
So we occupied a space and there was such joy in that, in just<br />
being present. In being <strong>of</strong> the moment. Those moments were so<br />
precious. That bubble, where she was and where we were.<br />
We sat and spoke <strong>of</strong> nothing really, <strong>of</strong> times past, <strong>of</strong> remembrances,<br />
<strong>of</strong> reminders, <strong>of</strong> who we were and who we thought we were.<br />
At times we reached an essence <strong>of</strong> humanity, a purity <strong>of</strong> love.<br />
There were no expectations and no judgement. There were<br />
photographs and flowers, there was song and poetry, there was<br />
much laughter and there were tears.<br />
The emotions were … intense. She felt love and joy so purely,<br />
she felt loss, especially the loss <strong>of</strong> Daddy, so keenly. The sense<br />
<strong>of</strong> loneliness and fear that sometimes engulfed her was so raw<br />
that I couldn’t reach into that space to pull her back, to make<br />
her realise what was present and what was past. The sands were<br />
shifting beneath her and time was fluid. So when she worried<br />
about Daddy and why he wasn’t home yet and why he hadn’t<br />
written her a birthday card, it mattered little that Daddy had<br />
died 29 years earlier, because for her she felt the pain <strong>of</strong> his<br />
absence like a physical wound.<br />
<strong>An</strong>d then it passed and she was with us again in the very moment<br />
and the very space we occupied. <strong>An</strong>d we sang songs …<br />
‘Hello Dolly, you’re lookin’ swell Dolly.’<br />
45
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