Honey Fungus

Totally Teen Festival

2011-11-18T03:49:00.000-08:00

Some very interesting events going on at this totally teen festival in Tallaght today and tomorrow,

Poetry Slamming, Screenwriting, Graphic Arting, Creative Writing, and Zombie outbreak stopping!

DIVE IN-Totally Teen Festival presents a Creative Writing Workshop with Claire Hennessy

2011-10-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Check out the Noise website for more on this...

Ever read a story, play or poem and thought ‘I could do better than that!’ Well now’s your chance. Join popular author Claire Hennessy at her Creative Writing Workshop and see just how good you are. Book early as places will fill up fast!

Claire Hennessy is the author of several teenage books including her first, Dear Diary.Claire is currently working on her tenth novel. She likes childrens and young adult fiction, history, feminism, and gifted education. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

There's also this one...

Do you want to see your story come to life on the big screen? Well if this is where you ambition lies come along to this workshop where you’ll learn what makes a screen story different and the tips and tricks for writing a winning screenplay. This workshop is really great for any aspiring screenwriters. Give it a go- then enter your completed work in the NOISE Flicks screenwriting competition for NOISE Flicks 2012 (www.noisesouthdublin.com/events).

Vinny Murphy has worked as a writer, director, actor, and composer for film, tv and theatre. He has acted in more than 40 films, directed 11, and composed music for more than 15 titles. He directed and co-wrote the critically acclaimed 1999 feature film‘Accelerator’. In 2001 Vinny was awarded the UIP/FMI Best Director Prize. Recent features include ‘The Disturbed’ by Conor McMahon and Joseph Delond’s award-winning ‘Bitterness’ .

Cuisle Young Poet of the Year

2011-09-06T06:59:00.001-07:00

The Cuisle Young Poet of the Year is seeking entries from poets under 12 / 15 / 18 years old on 1 September, 2011.

Deadline for submission is 14 September 2011 - with winners being invited to read during the Cuisle International Poetry Festival in October and prizes will be awarded at a special award ceremony.

For more details visit poetryireland.ie

CREATIVE CAMPUS 19 - 24 September

2011-05-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

Tallaght Community Arts and South Dublin County Council’s NOISE Programme with the Arts Office would like to offer an opportunity for young people ages 13 – 18 to visit an exhibition, talk, workshop led by young artists ages 18 – 25 in September 19 – 24, 2011.

TCA and NOISE have developed a programme called Creative Campus.

3 professional artists (info below) will be working with younger artists between the ages of 18 – 25 to create a site-specific installation/performance work for a multi-media centre in South Dublin County. You may have visited it before—the Big Picture space next to the LUAS in Tallaght.

These artists will work with this group of 18 – 25 year olds to create a piece of work that involves visual arts, video, sound, technology and performance.

In order to share the experience and some of the learning with other younger people, these artists will be planning exhibitions, talks, workshops perhaps and more for secondary-school age young people. This will happen the week of September 19 – 24 during the day and in the evening as well, depending on the interest levels of groups like yourself.

We’re hoping you can save the date and indicate if you would be interested in bringing a group. We understand that this is early back into the start of the autumn season/school year, so we wanted to give you some notice.

Groups should register their interest with

Victoria Durrer

Youth Arts Coordinator
Arts Office, Community Department
South Dublin County Council
Clondalkin D22

E-mail: vdurrer (at) sdublincoco.ie

Artists Involved:

Matt Green is a Sound Artist who has recently completed a PhD at the Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast. His research was supported by Hewlitt-Packard Media Labs and explored the sonic capacities of the lab’s mobile and pervasive technologies.

In conjunction with his research and otherwise, Matt has exhibited work at numerous festivals and conferences throughout the UK and further afield. This includes ISEA 2009 (International Symposium for Electronic Arts), Dislocate 2008 (Yokohama/Tokyo, Japan), Inclusiva.Net 2008 (Madrid, Spain) and FutureSonic (Manchester, UK). Matt was recently commissioned by Belfast City Council and PLACE to produce six site-specific sound installations for six sites in the city of Belfast. This work was titled Resounding Rivers (2010) and sought to reintroduce the sound of Belfast’s buried rivers into the city’s streets. Matt is also the co-creator of a permanent yet adaptable, interactive sound installation, which is located in the entrance space of Perth Concert Hall, Scotland and entitled Lyre Bird (2005). Additionally, Matt has an interest in electronic music and performance.

Stuart Sloan has both a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Film from Queen’s University Belfast, and co-founded filmmaking company X-Ray Eye Films. In 2008, Stuart directed the documentary short Counterweight, which deals with the changing face of Belfast, and was shown at various festivals and cinemas in Ireland. That same year, Stuart was part of a three-man crew for the independent feature film I Wanted to Talk to You Last Night. More recently, Stuart has been commissioned to create gallery based video and installation art for several Irish art galleries, including Blackstaff is Belfast, a mobile sound and video work that showed as part of the International Symposium for Electronic Arts (ISEA) in 2009.

Whilst living in California, Stuart edited Alzheimer’s documentary You’re Looking At Me Like I Live Here And I Don’t (2011). This feature has very been selected by PBS and will be broadcast across the US in late 2011. Stuart is currently editing a feature film concerning the San Francisco Ballet with Cannes and Sundance-winning director, Rob Nilsson, as well as a documentary chronicling the Los Angeles instrumental hip-hop scene.

Joan Healy is a visual artist based in Dublin. She has a B.A. in Fine Art from the Dublin Institute of Technology and an M.A. in the Art in the Digital World course from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. In her work she combines performance, sound, video, and interactive technologies, examining gender roles and the notion of the abject in society.

She has recently exhibited her sound installation piece Meat Market that uses sensors and interactive technology in Transnatural, Amsterdam, and performed her Live Art piece Hairy Banjo at Biorhythm in the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin and in the St Etienne City of Design Biennale, France. Her work has also been exhibited both nationally and internationally at exhibitions in Landmark, Bergen Kunsthall, Norway; STRP art and technology festival, Eindhoven; Rua Red, Dublin; Peacock Visual Arts Centre, Aberdeen, Stadtbad, Berlin; Occupy Space, Limerick; Shunt, London, UK; The Eclectic Tech Carnival, Umea, Sweden; G126 Galway; Space Delawab, Belfast; IMOCA, Dublin. She has lectured and given workshops at universities and art foundations including the International Symposium of Electronic Art ’09, Belfast; the National College of Art and Design, Dublin; the University of Umea, Sweden; Mztech, London; and the Digital Arts Studios, Belfast.

Drama workshops for teens

2011-04-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Part of the Mindfield festival, free drama workshop with professionals! more info below:

Saturday, 30.4.2011, 1.30pm and 3.30pm, Ignition Stage

2 x 1 hour sessions @ 1.50pm & 3.30pm.

Drama workshops for teens with the Apartment RED actors & creators: Bethie, Keegan and Dean.

Some TRTÉ and RED merchandise will be distributed to people taking part in the workshops.

Facilitated by producer Róisín Buckley.

Developed from an annual festival-within-a-festival, the now renowned MindField will present a vibrant programme of fully-interactive talks, readings, debates, workshops and much more, covering a full spectrum of culture including architecture, literature, slam poetry, technology, gaming, climate change, social entrepreneurship, fashion, art and design.

Looks like fun!

Poetry Competition for under 18's!

2011-03-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Are you or do you know any young poets? That's under 18.

Windows Publications, in association with Cavan Crystal, is pleased to announce the opening of their 19th National Poetry Competition.

In addition to cash prizes in each category the winner (who must attend the ceremony in May in Cavan) will be presented with a beautiful and much coveted Cavan Crystal goblet sponsored by Cavan Crystal Design. The first prize for each of the student categories is €100 or equivalent.

Entry to this competition is free. Entrant details (name, age, school or contact number) must be clearly marked on the BACK of each entry if posting work or at the end of the work if sending by email. Poems should NOT have been published before or won a prize in any other competition, and must be the student’s OWN work.

Competition entries will also be accepted on line as well as by post. Send entries toheatherbrett22@hotmail.com or by post to Cavan Crystal Hotel, Dublin Rd., Co. Cavan clearly stating which category you are entering for.

Junior Category- Open to all students aged 10-13 throughout Ireland in primary or national school education or equivalent.
Senior Category- Open to all students aged 13-18 throughout Ireland in second level education or equivalent.
Irish language Category- Open to all students in Ireland between 10 and 18.

Deadline: March 31st
Judges: Heather Brett and Noel Monah

Workshops, Competitions and other fun sundries for youthsssss

2011-02-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

Participants who have attended NOISE Flicks 2011 Workshops so far have said:
‘It was true awesomeness in its purest form’

So, this Saturday don’t miss ….

Screenwriting for Shorts with Cecilia McAllister

Saturday February 26^th 11am – 5pm @ RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre.

Price: €2
More info about Cecilia is here.

Work created during this workshop can be submitted to WHAT’S THE STORY? SCREENWRITING COMPETITION
2 minute film script, any topic
One competition category: ages 14 – 25
Award: training and access to 2 Sony Z1 HDV cameras; mentoring by professional filmmakers on film shoot and editing
Deadline to submit: March 8^th 2011 by noon.

Also, don’t forget about…

MOBILE SHORT COMPETITION
Use your phone to record a short film up to 3 minutes in length on any topic.
Upload entries to dedicated NOISE Flicks YouTube Channel!
One competition Category: ages 14 – 25
Award: 1 lucky finalist will receive an €100 voucher towards camera equipment
5 shortlisted films selected for screening at NOISE Flicks Festival in March and featured on the official programme of Àn LAR TV (www.anlar.tv)
Deadline to submit: March 15^th 2011 at noon.

NOISE FLICKS YOUNG FILMMAKER COMPETITION:
Short films (2 -15 mins) of any type: drama, comedy, action, dance, documentary, or animation
Two competition categories: ages 14 – 18 and ages 19 – 25
Best Overall Award: 300 euro
Special Mention Award: Free use of editing equipment in RUA RED, South Dublin County Arts Centre for 16 hours
All shortlisted films screened at festival in March
Deadline to submit: March 8^th 2011 by noon

Festival events, talks, and screenings take place on March 25^th and 26^th.

Further information on all workshops and competitions including details about how to enter can be found atwww.noisesouthdublin.com/events and www.ruared.ie

Check out our Facebook page for regular NOISE Flicks news and updates:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noise-Flicks-Youth-Film-Festival-2011/143378479051644

Junior Writers Award - 12 - 16 years

2011-01-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

With thanks to Emerging Writer for posting this

Find out more about the festival here

Waterford City Council offers an award of €300 as a nation-wide junior writing award.

Extracts of the winning entries may be read during the Waterford Writers’ Festival in March. Each entrant is invited to the presentation of the Waterford City Council Seán Dunne Young Writers’ Awards in Garter Lane on March 18, 2011

The Categories are:
Poetry (Maximum 40 lines and 1000 words)
Prose (Fiction/Non-fiction, Maximum 2000 words)
Drama/Screenplays (Maximum 5000 words)
There is no entry fee, but no more than two pieces can be submitted by any individual.

Deadline: January 20, 2011.

National Entries (Junior)
For the National Junior Sean Dunne Young Writers’ Awards, entries will be accepted from writers who are between the ages of 12 and 16 years by January 31, 2011 and who were born, or are resident in, Ireland.

In the event of a writer being eligible for more than one award it is important to note that a separate piece/s of writing must be submitted for each award.

Postal address for entries:

Seán Dunne Young Writers’ Awards,
The Arts Office,
Waterford City Council,
City Hall,
Waterford.

Suburban Sounds

2010-10-06T02:36:00.001-07:00

Suburban Sounds is an evening-course in music which is open to young people (aged 14- 18yrs) with a passion for song writing, music composition and/or music performance. Course sessions take place every two weeks and participants are chosen on the basis of application (see below).It is hosted by South Dublin County Arts Office, in association with South Dublin Rock School and RUA RED and runs from October 2010 to April 2011.
Deadline for applications is Friday 15th October

http://suburbansounds.org/

Flash Fiction

2010-09-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

We also had a go at doing some six word stories... the warm up was to tell the story of Snow White in six words... here's how we got on

Happy ending, sad middle and start - by Róisín

Female coma victim awakens when kissed - by Caitriona

Lost beautiful maiden finds her prince - by Fariya

Princess lives with seven dwarves.... Aaanyway... - by Thomas

From the character's point of view

2010-09-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

Today we swapped distinguishing features, locations and emotions, and used the combinations that emerged to make a story using the characters own voice. This is the one that Fariya came up with:

"One cup, two cup, three cup, four cup, five, pink flower cup, purple flower, polka dot cup. I love love love love cups.

They are all I breathe for, all I yearn for. I admire them deeply, their round shapes open at the top where you can pour hot liquids in. It's amazing because not a single drop falls. It just stays there. The liquid swirling in my cup, as I shake the cup lightly, breath taking, absolutely mesmerising. That is why I love cups. I live among them inside our sacred cupboard, me and my dozens of cups.

If you intrude into my sacred cupboard you will feel the wrath of my extremely bushy hair. Once you are lost in my bushy hair you lose your head. Inside my secret cupboard, my beautiful warriors of easily breakable china cups will be your destruction.

Daily I protect the cups from the hands of you ignorant humans. How clumsily you drop them, and they break, but not anymore, for I love my babies and one day we shall rule the world.

Tea for everyone.

One cup, two cup, three cup, four."

Unreality

2010-07-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

A poem from today's group - coming from a 2 object exercise

Unreality

The playfulness of soft animals
is lost to me now.
Tides of time have passed
As I return to where I began
Alone.
Family is gone, friends I've lost
the trappings of a futile reality
are all washed away in the wind.
I fear the end yet am happy
for the closure I recieve
has been long awaited
In cold dark seas
As the world ends.

by Tom

South County Dublin Arts Strategy Needs You!!!

2010-07-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

South Dublin County Council's Arts Office is planning its Art Strategy for the County for the next 5 years.
The strategy is a document that lists the Arts Office's plans for supporting artists, communities, adults and young people to take part in the arts.
We welcome young people, ages 13 – 25, to use http://www.noisesouthdublin.com to let South Dublin County Council's Arts Office know what you think!
Use writing, photographs, drawings, videos, music and more! To help you along...here are some questions to think about:
1. What do you need in order to take part in the arts in South Dublin County?
2. What do you need in order to get a job in the arts?
3. What kinds of arts activities do you take part in? What activities would you like to see more of?
We are also inviting young people to participate in a discussion about needs and interests in specific art forms on the following days:

FILM: Thursday, July 29th 5 – 7pm, RUA RED
MUSIC: Weds, 1 – 2:30pm, RUA RED
THEATRE/DANCE/DRAMA: Weds, 3 – 4:30pm RUA RED

Please contact Tori at vdurrer@sdublincoco.ie to register your interest and more details will be sent on. BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THESE EVENTS

This Sounds Interesting

2010-07-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

A new online magazine for young poets

Check it out here:

http://www.ympoetry.org/

Dublin: A City of Literature

2010-06-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

Jane Alger from Dublin City Council is looking for a few lines (under 300 words ideally) from contemporary writers in Dublin to put on a forthcoming website dublincityofliterature.com.

It's part of Dublin's application for UNESCO City of Literature campaign. If you feel like offering any thoughts on your experiences as a writer in Dublin at the moment, good/bad/indifferent, you can send an email to her with your comments.

Her email is jane (dot) alger (at) dublincity (dot) ie. You can put "City of Literature/Writing in Dublin" in your subject line so she can identify you.

(If you consider yourself a young writer - include your age, they are interested in having perspectives from various age groups)

2010-06-17T02:28:00.000-07:00

Back this saturday for more writing fun at the usual time, usual place!

2010 series of summer camps at Fighting Words.

2010-05-07T08:16:00.001-07:00

aimed at different age groups from 7 to 17 years. As always the camps are free > of charge, but places are limited and are expected to book up quickly. If your children or children/teenagers you know would like a place then please send an email to info@fightingwords.ie and we will be in touch soon after.

Summer Camps at Fighting Words

Graphic Novel
10-13 year olds
Monday 5th July - Thursday 8th July

Playwriting and Performance Art
14-17 year olds
Monday 12th July - Thursday 15th July

Playwriting and Performance Art
7-9 year olds
Tuesday 20th - Thursday 22nd July

Songwriting
14-17 year olds
Monday 26th July - Thursday 29th July

Radio Broadcasting
7-9 year olds
Tuesday 3rd August - Thursday 5th August

Photography and Creative Writing
10-13 year olds
Monday 9th August - Thursday 12th August

Mobile Movie
14-17 year olds
Monday 16th August - Thursday 19th August

Fiction Writing
14-17 year olds
Tuesday 24th August - Friday 27th August

It will be an exciting summer at Fighting Words!

A villanelle in my mind

2010-04-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

I spend my time in my mind

Where the sun is black, the moon is read

And frogs enjoy swinging on the vines

My thoughts will dance around my head

They say being normal is a crime

I spend my time in my mind

Things are strange in my mind

There’s someone playing drums, whose name is Fred

And frogs enjoy swinging on the vines

In my mind my ideas are fed

I spend my time in my mind

And frogs enjoy swinging on the vines

A Rainy Villanelle

2010-04-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

I always seem to see the rain

It’s going to kill me soon

I mean, what does it gain?

It’s giving me a pain,

Let me tell you,

I always seem to see the rain.

Look at the lovely plants I’ve lain

Drowning with the monsoon

I mean, what does it gain?

I always seem to see the rain

A Villanelle on not knowing what to say

2010-04-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

I am writing a villanelle

I don’t know what to say

Oh I should say I’m wearing Chanel

I’m not an angel

I have a friend called Fay

My friends are all Angels from Hell

I fell

I fell the other day

I fell into a cell

My cell was in Kells

Kells is in Meath, is what they say.

I am writing a villanelle

And I don’t know what to say.

A Forest Villanelle

2010-04-25T02:43:00.000-07:00

Here's the second in our series of specially adapted Honey Fungus style Villanelles... enjoy

I love the forest in which the animals dwell

Where the trees are oh so tall

I those woods I feel so swell

I hate the city it feels like hell

I hate the city, I hate the mall

I love the forest in which the animals dwell

I hate those places where I feel

Like I’m away and not at home at all

I love the forest in which the animals dwell

In those woods I feel so swell

Villan-elle - Dog v's Sister Jane

2010-04-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Today in Group we experimented with the Villanelle form - of course adapting and fitting it suit ourselves, and we got some pretty nice results - which we'll be showcasing here over the next couple of weeks, so here's the first:

That dog is on that chair over there,
Sister Jane can't adjust,
It's strange because that chair is usually bare.

Sister Jane goes to the chair,
She feels fit to combust,
That dog is sitting there, its coat full and fair.

Her mouth holds traces of smiles being rare
She is melting, turns to rust
That dog is on that chair over there,
It's strange because that chair is usually bare.

Creating a Peaceful World - Essay Contest

2010-03-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

My Role in Creating a Peaceful World

Young people from around the world are invited to enter the 2010 International Essay Contest for Young People organized by the Goi Peace Foundation and UNESCO.
The theme of the 2010 International Essay Contest for Young People is: "My role in creating a peaceful world”.

What is your vision of a peaceful and harmonious world?
What can you and the young people of the world do to realize that vision?

The deadline for entry is June 30, 2010

http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/index.html

NOISE Flicks Festival

2010-03-15T05:45:00.000-07:00

Meet Nicky Phelan, Director/Designer, Brown Bag Films at this year's NOISE Flicks Festival! Watch a screening of Brown Bag's Oscar-nominated short animation, Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty and ask Nicky Phelan about the making of the film and his experience in the film/animation industry! NOISE Flicks is on March 20th, 6pm at RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre. Call RUA RED at 01 451 5860 to book tickets!
Tickets are 5 euro. It is highly recommended to book tickets in advance. Watch films made by young aspiring filmmakers. This year's entries are fantastic! They include, a robbery getaway, unique brothers who argue quietly, a Taoiseach who takes his power too far, amazing butterflies, dancing and more!
Awards are given in two age categories: 14 to 18 and 19 to 25. This year's awards will be presented by Sheila de Courcy, Commissioning Editor, Young Peoples' Programmes, RTE!
More information available at: www.noisesouthdublin.com NOISE Flicks 2010
Judges:
KEN WARDROP: Ken's short films and recent first feature have played at festivals throughout the world including Sundance and Cannes. In 2004 Ken Wardrop’s graduation film, “Undressing my Mother”, became one of the most successful Irish short films of all time, winning over 25 international awards including a European Film Academy Award. His first feature, called 'His and Hers' recently won awards at Sundance and an IFTA for best documentary feature!
SHANE HOGAN: Shane is co-founder of Areaman Productions with Tom Burke and they recently co-directed 'The Liberties', which aired on RTE One in September 2009. For over a decade Shane Hogan was Paris Producer of Fashion Television and has also worked for Entertainment Tonight at Cannes Film Festival, World Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards & Laureus Sports Awards and Tennis Channel during the French Open tennis at Roland Garros.
GERRY GILVARY: Gerry is Lecturer in Video/Television Production at the Institute of Technology, Tallaght.
The festival is initiated and funded by South Dublin County Council’s Arts Office and supported by IT Tallaght; RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre; RTE 2 and the Arts Council.

Creative Writing Competition 2010

2010-02-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

The Secretary General of the United Nations is summoning world leaders to a meeting on the Millennium Development Goals and you have agreed to address them. What will you say?

Five years and counting

In the year 2000, world leaders made eight solemn promises to the developing world. They stated that by the year 2015, key targets in the areas of poverty, health, education and the environment will be achieved.

The challenge

Imagine yourself before the United Nations General Assembly in front of 192 Heads of State. The President of the assembly introduces you to loud applause. The hall goes quiet as they await your words…

Submit your essay

Your task

Choose just one of the eight goals and send us the speech you would give to world leaders on it. Remember to be creative!

Here are the categories:

Junior

Age 12 – 15 years
Maximum 1,000 words

Senior

Age 16 – 18 years
Maximum 1,500 words

Adult

Age 19+
Maximum 1,500 words

Prizes

There will be prizes awarded in each category, with special awards for the best entries from third-level, community and adult education sectors.

First prize in each category is a netbook
Second prize in each category is an e-reader
Third prize in each category is an mp3 player

See here for more

http://www.concern.net/get-involved/schools/concern-writing-competition

Our Radio Show

2010-02-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

Click here for the very excellent Radio Show broadcasted on Sunday last to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. Hope you enjoy...

Honey Fungus on the Radio

2010-02-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

We're on the Radio this weekend !! Yes, we'll be guests of honour on Liffey Sound's fabulous weekly writer based radio show "The Sunday Scrapbook". Tune in at 4pm on Sunday to hear us read our work, and discuss the theme "The Life of a Teenager" with Niamh B the presenter (and coincidentally our secretary, who is actually posting up this notification herself - fair play to me :-))
Should be a great show - hope you can join us then.

Listowel - young writers' competition

2010-02-03T05:40:00.001-08:00

Kerry County Council Creative Writing Competitions for Youth

Competition Details
Submissions may be in the form of poems, short stories or essays. Name and address of entrant, school and age category should appear on each entry, particularly if submitting more than one entry.

Prize
€1,500

Categories
Creative Writing for 9 years and under
Maximum 300 words

Creative Writing for 12 years and under
Maximum 500 words

Creative Writing for 14 years and under
Maximum 500 words

Creative Writing for 16 years and under
Maximum 1,000 words

Creative Writing for 18 years and under
Maximum 1,000 words

Sponsor
Kerry County Council

Entry Fee
Free

Rules
1. The Closing Date for receipt of entries is:
Friday 26th February 2010.

2. Entries must not have been previously published.

3. Entries must be typed

4. Please retain a copy, as entries shall not be returned.

5. Please submit your name and contact details on a separate sheet. No indication of the entrant's identity should appear on the competition entry (with the exception of The Kerry County Council Creative Writing Competition for Youth).

6. Entries may be in Irish or in English / Is féidir iontrálacha a bheith i mBéarla nó i nGaeilge.

7. Please identify the specific competition for which you are entering on the outside of the envelope.

8. The appropriate entry fee must be included with each entry; otherwise the entry will not be adjudicated.

9. An unlimited number of entries may be submitted for the competitions with the exception of The Seanchaí/Storytelling competition and The Fiction Slam Competition

10. The adjudicator's verdict is final.

11. Winners only will be notified.

12. No correspondence shall be entered into regarding competition entries.

13. Awards may not be presented where an appropriate standard is not achieved.

14. Writers' Week reserves the right to withhold or to publish winning entries in the publication "Winners' Anthology 2010".

15. Payments can be made by cheque (payable to Writers' Week Ltd) or by Laser/Credit Card (fee of €4 per transaction for Credit Card and fee of €2 for Laser Card). Please do not send cash.

Submit Entries To
Kerry County Council Creative Writing Competitions for Youth
Writers' Week Ltd
24 The Square
Listowel
Kerry
Ireland

The Squirrel

2010-01-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

The most violent creature in the forest - let out a horrible sound that burst the ear drums of all humans.
"Aaaaagh!" screamed everyone who saw the evil squirrel. "It's going to fly right at us"
Then the squirrel suddenly jumped on top of Tom and started nibbling on him.
"Ouch!" shouted Tom, trying to swot the squirrel away, but the squirrel was intent on going for his eyes...

Short Story Competition for Teenagers!!!!

2010-01-12T13:22:00.001-08:00

Library Branch: Newbridge Community Library, Newbridge

Email: newbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie Telephone: 045 448353

Deadline: 30 January 2010

Newbridge Community Library is hosting a Short Story Competition for Young Adults between 15 and 18 years.

Judge: Mae Leonard

Theme: Libraries / Books.

Entries should be type written and less than 1200 words.

1st Prize will consist of a €50 Easons Voucher, 2nd Prize a €25 voucher.

No Adjectives Allowed

2009-12-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

Today we did a writing exercise which involved writing with no adjectives for awhile - it resulted in the beginning of the following story, which was then finished by Roisín after the group.... enjoy!

The watch lay on the desk ticking, just ticking..... It was as if the room was shrinking in on me as I stared at the watch. The light spiralled around it, not noticing me, as I marvelled at this world.

My world.

My thoughts remained peaceful and hazy as if I was dreaming.

I felt I as forgetting something, that I should be waking up now, it was too perfect. It had to be a dream.

As if Fate was answering me the walls began to shrink faster, hitting my sides and crushing my ribs. The light that had seemed so perfect was now a snake coiling itself around my neck.

But the watch was still ticking. Its simple existence not interrupted by the changes that had altered this world.

So, foolishly I clung to its sound the only remaining part of the peaceful world I had built. I blocked out everything else, ignoring the pain of my life slipping away.

I let it fill my mind and shield my senses and with a thud I hit the ground.

I smiled as I opened my eyes to the place where I had begum my ritual, I had broken free. My eyes were now open to a world that forbid me to enter.

Calling Young Film makers!!

2009-12-02T04:49:00.001-08:00

NOISE Flicks is a youth film festival initiative of South Dublin County Council that began in March 2009. It is part of the NOISE South Dublin online project and networked NOISE Community of creative young people in South Dublin. www.noisesouthdublin.com

What is the purpose of the festival?
NOISE Flicks aims to showcase and celebrate the creative talent of young people in South Dublin County, ages 14 to 25. We consult with professional filmmakers and film, TV, and video lecturers to create a festival that may assist young people in learning more about and gaining access to the film industry. Awards are also given in two age categories: 14 to 18 and 19 to 25.

Who may participate?
The film competition is open to individual young filmmakers (14 - 25yrs), living or studying in South Dublin County, as well as groups (such as in school, PLC or Third Level colleges or youth services) in South Dublin County. Those submitting to the festival must have at least one member of their group either living or studying in South Dublin County. Films submitted must have been completed after September 2008.

Deadline for submissions: Monday, March 1st 2010 at noon
Selection will be based on originality and creativity; strength of script/story; and quality and contribution of editing, camera work and directing to the overall story. Decisions will be made by a panel of judges. Judges’ decisions are final.

Films will be short-listed for screening at RUA RED South Dublin County Arts Centre on Saturday, March 20th 2010.

Chicken Poems

2009-11-28T08:13:00.000-08:00

Today we started talking about the poetic possibilities of chickens (what writing group hasn't grappled with this one?), what follows are just two of the poems that resulted from this theme. We used the Adrian Mitchell poem "Live it like your last day Dig what can be dug" as a structural scaffold or jumping off point. Hope you enjoy what follows:

Live life like a great chicken
Eat what can be eaten

In the farm of Nixon
the shed of chickens and turkeys
or turkey-chickens or chicken-turkeys
reflects the mad crazy world
of about 6 billion people

like people in the mad world
I told my Australian servant
who had noticed chickens before

I said that's my job
noticing stuff like that -
I'm a farmer

Unusual isn't it
People in this mad world,
he said wondering.

Now you're thinking right,
I said.

by Thomas

The Army of Angry Birds

The chickens from Australia
are not your typical chickens -
You see
They have an army of marching turkeys
and a pair of angry ducks.
They've taken over Queensland
But they won't stop there,
They'll capture the Northern Territory
and overrun your house.
There is no escape from
the army of angry birds.
by Róisín

The bag

2009-11-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

It had a white background and a strange, detailed pattern on it, and it had been used to carry the Queen of England's crown. And it was this reason that this normal plastic bag was worth over a million euro. JOKE! Actually you could buy one in spar for 99c and the only important thing it had ever been used for was carrying a successful business man's shopping. The important thing was that it was used for SOMETHING.

Joan O Flynn

2009-11-15T01:33:00.000-08:00

Joan was a nice and generous women and a lovely nan to Caitriona, a member of our group. Joan loved to join us on a Saturday. She gave her opinion and advice on the things we wrote. She also joined us on our annual trip in summer 2008 making the experience that bit better. The things she wrote showed us her sense of humour and her love for poetry. She will be greatly missed by our group.

Call for Submissions from Teen Writers/Artists

2009-11-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

OUR VOICE, the resource for creative and talented teenagers from Giftedkids.ie, invites submissions from teen writers, artists and journalists.

Creative contributions of all kinds - fiction, poetry, artwork, comics, original music and film - are welcomed for the BOX OF VOICES journal, while submissions of journalistic pieces and non-fiction pieces of all sorts are welcomed on a rolling basis for the COMMENTARY section.

Please note that as this is a voluntary endeavour OUR VOICE regrets to inform contributors that it cannot offer payment.

Link

http://www.giftedkids.ie/voice

voice@giftedkids.ie

Another story based on Black

2009-10-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

The vampire and witch hated each other, yet they both needed to hunt at night.
A graveyard was always a good place to hunt and at midnight the food practically came to you. That did not mean that it was easy to hunt in a graveyard. It was quite the opposite actually. You still needed to fade in with your surroundings. Boots were always best for hunting, especially black ones, then you faded into the darkness better. Leather made it easy for you to swivel in between the obstacles.
The vampires loved black leather for the simple reason that it amplified their powers of allure against their prey.
On the other hand witches hated leather, because it diminished their magic.
The vampire and witch, though they hated each other, had a lot in common, their love of magic brinded them in a way almost unimaginable though they did not know it, they often thought the same thoughts and shared the power of visions. Yet each did not know that together they could turn the world and it's stereotypical shows and rockstars into ashes. They often wanted to destroy the world, yet the shame would be the destruction of everything associated with ACDC.

Open House - Red Rua

2009-10-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

Tallaght Youth Arts Forum

PRESENT an

OPEN HOUSE at
RUA RED

A TOUR OF THE NEW SOUTH DUBLIN ARTS CENTRE
NOVEMBER 18TH 2009
Evening tours from 6:45 – 9:15

Tallaght Youth Arts Forum - For Youth by Youth
Booking essential For more info and to book your place please call Tori at 086 0479535 tallaghtyouthartsforum@gmail.com
Find us at Facebook: TYAF Free prize draw on the night!

Silence of the Lambs

2009-10-18T09:57:00.001-07:00

Apologies that posts have been sporadic of late, our secretary has carelessly allowed her laptop to crash, so she's way behind with the posting. Anyway - he's The Silence of the Lambs - inspired by a fantastic drawing by one of our talented members.

The tape recording still playing the Goldberg variations by J S Bach with Glenn Gould at the piano filled the small cell with lustrous highs and fast notes which sounded like the choirs of heaven. Above the tape, brooding and ominous as ever, stood Dr Hannibal Lecter M. D. swaying his hands lazily in time to the quickening chords of the music. Behind him lay the recently deceased Lieutenant Boyle, his blood littering the floor in gouts of red and blacks.
As Lecter was orchestrating, an outside noise disturbed his peace, the feeble rasping of the still alive Sergeant Rembry.
At this interruption, Lecter abruptly stopped, opened his eyes and left the cell, pocket-knife in hand, to attend to the Sergeant.
"Ready when you are Sergeant Rembry" he mused, exiting through the open door.

REAL FALSE MEMORY - new noise project

2009-10-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Take photographs, sketch/draw, paint or even just find a picture of a place that means something to you—then create a story around that place---see if people can determine if it’s true or imagined….http://www.noisesouthdublin.com/projects/profiles/profile.php?id=299

The Colour Brainstorm

2009-10-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

This week at group - one of our number came up with the fantastic idea of brainstorming around a particular colour and then each of us writing a piece inspired by what came out. We chose the colour black - and had great fun thinking of words we associate with it for a few minutes. Here is one of the resulting exercises, we'll post a couple more over the coming days....

There was once a girl as bright as the colours that she wore with her dark brown hair. There was no helping the dark fact that at night, at the stroke of midnight, she would feel this unbearable pain as she would transform from her bright, calm, and collected nature - to this dark horror with the lust for blood that ran through her family. It was the moment where, hard as she tried, she could not escape or hide from the horrid curse brought upon her, the fact that she was a vampire.
Upon the stroke of midnight, though her mind and memory would be the same, her personality and looks would completely change, her hair glistening in the silvery light of the moon, eyes turned to a shake of pure black. Wearing a knee length black leather coat, long black boots, a black t-shirt, and a short black skirt, her attractiveness increasing a thousand times over, she thought her life would be normal as a dark vampire, but no luck could change what was lurking in her destiny and the person she would eventually meet.

Funky

2009-10-01T15:06:00.000-07:00

The last in this series of one line each - we're meeting again this saturday, so may have more to share with you after that!

My best friend sat on my bed chattering about homework, there’s one problem, she was dead.

I was shocked when she first came to me, it happened 3 days after the funeral.

“What the hell, I mean, what the life are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know, just hanging out, boring down at the cemetery, so it is” she brushed some muck off her shoulder.

I looked at her, confused.

I was glad she was there, especially lately.

She stepped out of the room, expecting me to follow.

I did, but only because I felt so angry. I had to yell at her, ask her why she wasn’t in heaven, was she in purgatory?

“I thought I’d have a holiday!”

“So, you decided to come and talk about homework? What kind of holiday is that?”

“A funky one”

“Funky !?”

Dance group and Dance film project:

2009-09-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

For boys and girls ages 13 +

Wednesdays from 5 – 7pm

Come join the fun at

Griffeen Youth Centre

Griffeen Glen, Lucan

Colours

2009-09-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Another from our one line each exercise....

Colours, colours, all around me. They feel estranged to me.

They felt familiar like I belonged.

They danced around, almost unaware of my presence.

“They’re alive” was all I could say, “The colours are alive”

“Yes, that’s what they all say Mrs Cuckoo,” said the psychiatrist.

Then I could see the colour blue sneaking up behind him, he’ll be sorry, I thought.

“What is it?” he asked, annoyed.

“They’re going to get you!”

Then blue grabbed him from behind.

“Blue, sit!” he said, and so it did.

“Sorry, this is my dog, blue”

The psychiatrist said “Joe, there’s no dog in this room”

Get your Art on the LUAS!

2009-09-24T10:05:00.001-07:00

The 3rd RPA-Luas Art Competition is now open for entries. We’re looking for the best art form using the theme of Luas Docklands (Busáras – The Point). The competition is open to anyone aged 16 years or over and any art form is acceptable. Make sure you read the Rules of Entry in the competition information booklet before submitting your work.

The closing date for entries is Friday 30th October 2009. This competition is run in conjunction with Dublin Culture Night on 25th September 2009 organised by Temple Bar Cultural Trust.

http://www.noisesouthdublin.com/2009/10/30/get-your-art-on-the-luas/

Dentist

2009-09-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

The girl’s face hurt from smiling but she just couldn’t stop,

because she was suffering from the after effects of laughing gas.

Her brother wondered when it would wear off and she’d feel the full effects of her visit to the dentist.

The sharp objects on the table made her feel scared, she shouted “Ah, Gawd save me”

She wanted to take them.

She wanted to run away, she wanted to leave this place,

but she couldn’t, because she was strapped to the chair with dental floss.

“Let me out! Let me out! I’ll drink a full bottle of diet coke every day if you don’t let me out!”

“Aha” said the dentist, “I knew it! You’ll have to stay with me now!”

“You pervert, your socks don’t match”

Like his personalities.

She was thinking that her life made no sense at all.

Just then she woke up.

Bubblegum Club Book Bash – Monster Book Fun!

2009-09-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday 3^rd October 2009 (During the Children’s Book Festival)

At the Kingston Hotel, Dun Laoghaire

12pm to 3.30pm

The first ever Irish literary lunch for children and teens. An author or book guru at every table! Come along and meet:

Derek Landy, Mr Skulduggery Pleasant himself! Winner of this year’s Irish Book Awards.

Marita Conlon McKenna, much loved and multi award winning author of Under the Hawthorne Tree

Sarah Webb, author of the hugely popular Amy Green series and bestselling author for mums and big sisters too!

Don Conroy, writer, artist and much loved Uncle Don from Den TV

Joe O’Brien, author of the Alfie Green series and other brilliant books

Judi Curtin, creator of the mega cool Alice and Megan books (TBC)

Celine Kiernan, author of the Moorhawk fantasy/adventure trilogy

Claire Hennessy, teen writing sensation who started her career at age 13!

Alison Walsh, uber experienced editor Ivan O’Brien, publisher, O’Brien Press

Plus more amazing writers - David Maybury, Maeve Friel, Jane Mitchell, Roisin Meaney, and Sarah Rees Brennan. And David O’Callaghan, book guru from Eason.

A fantastic, once in a lifetime chance to talk to these amazingly talented authors.

Plus Derek Landy will entertain you with tales from the depths of his wickedly creative mind. And our crack team of book trade professionals will answer all your questions on how a book is created and how you too can get published.

It gets even more exciting – every young reader will go home with a goody bag, and there will also be an Author Auction - win a writer to visit your school, or signed books by Darren Shan and other cool writers, plus a bookshop on site.

Please note tickets are limited and early demand has been unprecedented, so please book now to avoid disappointment. Children e20, adults e25 (child and adult tickets both include lunch – and child tickets include free goody bags)

All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult

Booking: email - bubblegumclubbookbash@gmail.com

Tel: 01 2360456 or 086 2628888 or check out www.bubblegumclub.ie for details

Children’s Book Festival info: www.childrensbooksireland.ie

It

2009-09-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

They were all sitting in a room squashed together.

They were all waiting for it to come into the room.

But what was it? They weren’t exactly sure yet.

A dog walked in and out. “Was that it?” someone asked.

There was an old man asleep on the bench, he woke up and said “Did I miss it?”

“Nope, not at all, go back to counting those sheep of yours Joe”

Everyone was anxious waiting for it, Jenny had a glimpse of it, she thought.

“I wonder if it will come at all” whispered Jenny.

“Yes, it will. In fact, it’s already here” said the giant flying mouse.

“Hi, I’m the GFM, but you can call me Bob!”

“Bob” said Jenny timidly “Are you it?”

“Of course, the wonderful Bob, not the builder”

“Haha,” everyone laughed anxiously.

Glass

2009-09-20T01:36:00.000-07:00

“It’s nothing but glass” said Joe

Shattered pieces in front of me. I didn’t trust Joe.

I felt like they would harm me, they somehow reminded me of Joe.

Why was I following Joe? He scared me and proved time and time again that he was untrustworthy.

And so am I, otherwise I would have told him I was stalking him, but that would have ruined the fun.

I have one complaint as a stalker. I walk pretty fast. HURRY UP JOE!

Joe was lagging behind, about 30 feet, this would never do, I had to stop and wait for him.

Then as usual what do I do next, I collapse. The same clutz.

I get back up in time to see him running towards me in a hurry.

I turn around and run away.

He pursued me and I panicked and ran into the candy shop.

Then everything stopped.

“I’ll have some sherbet and some bullseyes please!” I was in a rush.

Swimming

2009-09-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

The water was totally calm and nothing was really happening.
Susie hadn't been swimming for such a long time.
She saw the water flowing in all directions in ripples.
She was attracted to it like she needed to be there, in it.
She stepped into it, wanting to swim in it,
but knew that once you went in there was no coming back,
for there was a shark in the water. Some of the smaller, vegetarian sharks tried to fight him off, but to no avail.
He was heading straight for Susie's toe.
"A Shark, run run! I mean swim swim, you fool!"
But should she?
She turned about and tried to swim back.
But failed and was devoured.

Another from our one line each series - we will be posting more of these over the next few days.

Poetry Aloud Competition

2009-09-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Applications have opened for the Poetry Aloud Poetry Speaking Competition. Organised by Poetry Ireland and the National Library of Ireland, the competition is open to all post-primary students across the island of Ireland and is in its fifth year.

The entry form is here

Man Eating Toilet

2009-08-22T08:10:00.001-07:00

Today we did an exercise which involved each person giving the person on their left a subject to write about. One of us got the subject of a Man Eating Toilet. Since there's more than one way to approach any thing - the lucky recipient of this task came up with the following take on it... Hope you enjoy.

"It just won't fit Rob, leave it and walk away" shouted the judge.
Rob stared at the toilet in determination. He took in a breath.
"Ok. If I start with the lid and eat the rest..."
30 seconds left.
In a last gasp attempt, Rob lifted the toilet and threw it in the air.
Time seemed to stand still.
The toilet came down.
The crowd gasped.
The clock was on 5 seconds. Rob opened his mouth and swallowed.
The toilet was gone.
People were clapping "He DID it!!"
The judge walked over to Rob and shook his hand.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the new Guinness world record for the fastest time to eat a toilet!"

The John Betjeman Young People's Poetry Competition 2009

2009-08-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

The John Betjeman Young People's Poetry Prize is now in its third year. The competition was inaugurated in 2006 to celebrate the centenary of one of the nation's best-loved poets. The competition is open to 11-14 year olds living anywhere in the British Isles and the Republic of Ireland. Entrants are limited to one poem each about their local surroundings or any aspect thereof, whether it be a house, a street, a garden, a park, a city or a wider landscape. The spirit behind the competition is to encourage young people to understand and appreciate the importance of place.The inaugural prize was presented by the Poet Laureate Andrew Motion to 12-year-old Jamal Msebele in front of a packed congregation at the church of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. Since then Jamal Msebele has been a guest on Radio 4 and has become quite a star. Following its success, John Murray (Publishers) have offered an annual prize of £1000 (£500 to the winner and £500 to the English department of their school). The winning poems for the 2007 competition were announced at a special poetry event at the Cheltenham Festival of Literature, where a sell-out crowd heard the poems read by leading actors including Edward Fox, Phyllida Law and Daniel Stephens.If you would like to enter this year's competition, please download the entry form. For all enquiries, please contact the prize's administrator Justin Gowers (email: justinagowers@yahoo.co.uk)

One Sentence Each

2009-08-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

This is from one of the exercises we did today - where everyone writes a line of a story - then passes it on to the next person to write the next bit.

The man grabbed his cigar with chubby, sausage-like fingers.
"Hmmm," he pondered, then his eyes opened wide and he threw it at the terrified servant "I told you SILK CUT!"
The cigarette flew through the air, missing the maid's very flammable hair by inches. It landed with a thud in front of the closed door, causing smoke to crawl through the small crack, altering the fire alarm. The alarm sounded, everyone ran from the building.
"Ok, no more smoking or else"
"But I like smoking, it's not my fault you got the brand wrong"
"Sorry boss, but your excessive smoking coupled with large anger issues is just too much of a health hazard lately, goodbye. I quit"
"You can't quit, YOU'RE FIRED!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah"
"Good then"
"Yeah Good!"
"You guys have the worst comebacks in the history of comebacks," said some random interfering teenager.
"Yeah well, so's your face"

Honey FUNGUS lands!!!

2009-07-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

We are the artists formerly known as Lucan Teen writer's group. We formed in February 2008 when the adults group were too mean to let us join them, so we said "We'll start our own group so" and we've been meeting in Lucan library every second week ever since.
We've only just renamed ourselves while out on our second annual summer day out - and the new name is:

"the
HONEY FUNGUS
group"

Our aims are to support and encourage each other in our creative writing efforts. We play word games, do random writing exercises, read and discuss articles on writing, as well as reading our work to each other. We sometimes let the adults of Lucan Writer's group come along, so we can impress them with our brilliance, and teach them a thing or two about writing.
We write stories/ articles/ poems and some of us are currently working on our first novel. We welcome new members on an ongoing basis.