"RADE's innovative programme of combatting substance abuse through art introduces addicts to their own genius, their own best selves, it focuses on the buzz that living a positive life can bring,a buzz that is genuine and life enhancing"

President Mary McAleese

Creative Writing

RADE MY MIND Booklet Launch

RADE MY MIND was launched on 5th July 2023. This book of RADE participant’s creative work in 2022 had been kept under wraps for at least a month until its official launch at the OLV Building, Dublin 8.

From the book’s introduction:

“2022 was another busy and creative year for RADE participants and staff. Capturing the creativity of participants’ work in a book only shows half the story but we hope you will get a sense of the energy and productivity amongst these pages”

We were delighted to be joined by many guests for this special occasion which was a celebration of talent and creativity. Participants put together a performance of readings taken from the book for a captivated audience who joined us in applauding the creative work that goes on at RADE. The readings ranged from witty and playful to serious and thought provoking. It was a beautiful but brief interlude in the regular week at RADE and we were grateful to all those who gave up their lunch hour to be with us. A lucky break in the rain meant we could linger outside after the event and enjoy refreshments together.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the occasion both creatively and behind the scenes and to everyone who came to give their support.

Thomas Pepper reads from his work
Performance from our recent play ‘Apartment Block C’
Interim Project Director Gill McCaw, TD Chris Andrews and RADE Chairperson
Dominique Tuohy

CREATIVE WRITING- 2018

Creative Writing Workshop

Rapping Rade

Rade participants are currently enjoying rapping classes on a Wednesday.    John Cummins, rapper is working with participants on the fine art of rapping.  The end product will be a CD that will include the participants own creations.

Rapping (or rhyming, spitting, emceeing, MCing is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates “rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular”,  which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways, usually over a backbeat or musical accompaniment.

RADE in the News

KARL PARKINSON recently completed a series of creative writing workshops with participants here in RADE.

There was great feedback from the tutor and all participants. We hope to include some of the stories written by participants in the comic book to be launched next year.
Karl recently had an article published about his experience in RADE.

Please READ the article as we would like to share RADE’s stories.

Let Me Tell You

A collection of comic stories from 2017

Participants worked with comic creator Elida Maiques who facilitated workshops to produce the graphic novel Let Me Tell You. RADERS are determined to heal and make positive changes in their lives. Clink on the picture to see their work.

A RADE in Dublin

is a graphic novel of 1916

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Working with comic creator and graphic designer Paddy Lynch the group engaged in a number of workshops developing their stories around The Rising and learning how to present these tales in graphic format.  The end result is a colourful read.

Read the full publication here: A RADE in Dublin

Buckets: The Book

A trip down memory lane of buckets

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To celebrate our 10th Anniversary Cathy Coughlan researched RADE’s previous productions and publications before deciding on working from extracts from ‘Jack and Jill’ the play and using buckets as props in our 2014 dance – theatre production ‘Source’. This publication contains the original ‘Jack and Jill’ script and images from the 2014 production ‘Source’ staged during the Dublin Fringe Festival in the South Studios, Dublin 8

Here the full publication here: Buckets

A Hundred Years Ago: The Book

Stories and images from A Hundred Years Ago

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In 2013, inspired by the centenary of the 1913 Lockout, we produced a book with a difference. Participants took time outside their creative writing classes to read the literature, poetry and history of the period. This book is a compilation of what they learned, telling stories through their eyes. Participants worked with writer Dominique Cleary and RADE director Mick Egan to produce our most ambitious book to date. The stories from this book were used to develop the script of the acclaimed stage play A Hundred Years Ago.

Read A Hundred Years Ago

Rough Cuts – book

Images and writing from 2012

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Niamh pictured reading from Rough Cuts

Writer Dominique Cleary worked with RADErs to produced this insightful collection of short stories and tales. The group read ‘extracts of great personal essays, fiction and poetry: the work of Joan Didion, Annie Dillard, G.K. Chesterton, Jorge Luis Borges, Scott Russell Sanders, Raymond Carver, Sylvia Platt, Ted Hughes, Wendell Berry and W.B. Yeats, to name a few’.

On speaking about her experiences teaching the class, Dominique says, ‘RADErs don’t shy away from telling things as they are. Often simplicity brought the deepest truths, and there was realism, resilience and insight that comes from a life of self-challenge.”

Read stories from Rough Cuts

 

Frontier Folk – book

 A collection of stories, artwork and images

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Frontier Folk is a collection of stories and artwork from the RADE programme 2011. Malcolm MacClancy and Dominique Cleary facilitated the creative writing programme, while artists Eoghan O’Neill and John Devoy were responsible for the visual arts. This publication coincided with our short film Birthday.

RTÉ Radio 1 Arena show interviewed Darren and Jenna, who both shared some of their stories over the airwaves.

Read stories from Frontier Folk

 

 

Portraits – book

Poet of Ireland Paula Meehan faciliated creative writing workshops

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On 9th Sept RADErs launched Portraits, a collection of the group’s creative writing stories, facilitated by poet Paula Meehan, in the NCAD (National College of Art & Design) to mark RADE’s 5th anniversary.

Paula Meehan wrote about her experience in RADE: ‘Some mornings the energy is pure electric and huge leaps of trust and faith are made.”

Read Portraits 2010

 

Today’s D8 – book

 Short stories, artwork and images from 2009

Todays_D8

RTÉ writer Joe O’Donnell facilitated 2009’s publication, which focused on the theme of Dublin 8. Outings and visits were planned to local areas of interest, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch. Many participants went back to their roots and spoke to family members about the history of Dublin 8, giving this collection an authenticity.

Read Todays D8

Raders of the Táin – Book

Merging mythical Ireland with modern day

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Under the guidance of Steven Bourke, participants explored Thomas Kinsella’s Tain Bó Cuailgne. This legendary tale from early Irish history set the scenes for RADErs’ stories, art and theatre production in 2007/2008.

Read Raders of the Táin

Somewhere to Flap Your Wings – book

Poetry, writings, art and images

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Joanne reading from Somewhere to Flap Your Wings.

Working with Poetry Chair of Ireland Paula Meehan, the group focused on poetry, looking at Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’, elegies, dreams and lullabies. The publication was launched in the Project Arts Centre by President McAleese.

Read Somewhere to Flap Your Wings

RADE Stories

Tony Curtis facilitated creative writing

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The book where it all began. Poet Tony Curtis worked with RADErs to produce this funny and entertaining collection. It even included an afterword from our own Mick Egan.

Read RADE 2005