Creative Writing 

Readings from RADE

On 26th October 2023, RADE hosted a public reading to share the creative writing of RADE participants with the community.

Participants chose and read extracts from the writing that they had created over the course of an eight week long Creative Writing Workshop led by published author, Karl Parkinson. A good number of friends of RADE showed up to enjoy an afternoon of moving and entertaining readings. We are thankful to everyone who shared their writings and appreciate the courage it takes to stand up and share their stories. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this event. We hope to see you and many more of our friends in the future.

Here is a selection of some of the work produced in the workshop

NOTHING EVER CHANGES A poem by Will B

A timeless refrain,

In the halls of power, they play the same game.

Politicians cascade, making promises of gold,

While their bank balances soar, the secrets untold.

But deep in the shadows, I find my abode,

Down on the breadline, where my dreams erode.

Homeless, yet hopeful, in this world’s grim haze,

Lonely, Institutionalized, navigating life’s maze.

Hostels like buses, they come and they go,

I hop on, hop off, with the ebb and flow.

The only change I see, with each passing day,

Is me, my outlook, and the games that I play.

Once I saw only darkness and despair,

A life of drudgery, too heavy to bear.

Not wanting to try, to face my own plight,

Numbing the pain with drugs night by night.

Decades went by, exhaustion’s slow spin,

Till the numbness consumed my soul from within.

But change crept upon me, as slow as the tide,

Taking those baby steps, I could no longer hide.

With each new sunrise, positivity seeps in,

Self-esteem’s building blocks, I let them begin.

Is it possible that I’m worth the fight?

Could there be hope, a future so bright?

For if there’s hope for me, a chance to renew,

Then surely, my country, there’s hope for you too.

In change, we find strength, together we’ll thrive,

My transformation, a testament that we will
survive.

The Prison Rave Story (super short) by Jack Hurley ©2023

…And so, what was possibly the weirdest rave I ever attended, took place.

Everyone one on the landing and  many prisoners much further a field that night were havin’ it large; all together, dancing and screaming like banshees, and banging on the doors every time a really good tune came on, but in the solitary of our cells with only a small radio each as a sound system. But twenty prisoners in each landing on a wing with hundreds of prisoners, many of which were high as fuck, all playing the same station at the same time can still kick up quite a racket. The screws would have seen clearly what was happening, but there’s another rule; Once the door is locked, it stays locked, unless there’s an emergency. And half the wing off their tits on speed and hash, dancing like lunatics alone in their cells like they were there, until the early hours, just didn’t breach that threshold.

So we danced and sang and took what life was available from the ether and eventually around 5am the noise quietened, with any late screamers being loudly told what to do by everyone else who was coming down. 7.30am rolled around. I had not slept and was short most of my belongings, having used them as currency to cover the expense of the night before. I was yet again ushered through the reception into a transport. When we got to the courthouse I was placed into a cell with all the others, spitting and smoking and using and waiting. My name was called first. I stood before the judge. He was reading silently from a large folder. This went on for several long minutes in which time The Argument started to shout. I was losing control and my solicitor could see it. He motioned to a screw, who came over to me and whispered kindly, and urgently, “Keep it together, you’re nearly there…”

After a conversation between the public prosecutor, my solicitor and the judge, which they didn’t feel any need to make me part of, the judge simply announced “You can go. Report to probation services sometime within the next forty eight hours” and that was it. I was free.

A Lesson in the Park by William McKenna

He was finally back to his favourite bench in Merrion Square.  His little flying friends were already gathering by his feet, cooing and adjusting for position. 

Well, I’ve been in Liverpool for the past two weeks so you must be starving he thought.  He took a bag of crushed digestive biscuit crumbs from his jacket pocket and began spreading them amongst the eager flock.  Pigeons have no manners, unlike my robin friends, he said lightly to himself.  Peering through the hazy sunshine he could hear voices getting louder in the quiet surroundings.  It was two young boys approaching.  I hope they don’t disturb the birds’ dinnertime he thought. 

“Sorry auld lad, you wouldn’t have a light on ye?”, the slightly taller boy asked.

“No, sorry, I don’t smoke anymore”, the old man replied, “and neither should you two young men.”

“What would ye know auldie?”, the short boy chimed in.

“Well, I just returned from Liverpool after burying my best friend.  The bestest friend I had in my whole life.” 

“Sorry to hear that man”, they both said in unison. 

“He was two years younger than myself, but he was a smoker to the bitter end.” 

“Sounds like he was coolaboola”, the tall one sniggered, now putting the cigarette back in its box.

“If you think that taking over four years to die of lung cancer and being in intensive care for weeks on end is anything got to do with being cool, then go ahead, smoke yourself to death.  I don’t care,” the old man said sternly. 

The biscuit bag was almost empty now as the two boys stood still in silence. “That’s all we had in the end”, continued the old man, “silence.”

“Were youse not talking no more?”, the young one asked timidly. 

“He couldn’t talk no more lads.  He was a great singer back in the day, ye know.  The girls used to go crazy for him, made me mad jealous.” 

“Smoking is good for my voice, he would say.”  The old man now visibly upset. 

“Lads, the cancer had spread to his throat and after the operation he was a left with a hole right here, said the old man pointing to his neck.  Didn’t stop the stubborn eejit from smoking through it though.” 

“Jaysus wha?”  Screamed the tall boy as his friend was already bent over gagging. 

“Not a pretty site I can tell ya boys.  Do yourselves a favour continued the old man, don’t smoke and you will have plenty of years to thank me later.” 

“Yeah, grand, sound, no bother,” said the tall one.  “So, see you around, so.” 

“See ye around fellas and good luck”, the old man said while shaking their hands.  He watched them both leave as they walked then along the gravel path. 

“Right Stevo”, he could hear the tall one say.  “Your Dad’s a bollix.  So we’ll give him these and then get one of them vape yokes like what Sarah smokes.” 

“Yeh, deadly whacker, she’ll be mad into you know.” 

The old man gave out a wee chuckle as the boys voices faded out into the distance.

“You see”, he said looking down at the last remaining pigeon, “Bad habits are just as bad to kick as bad manners.” 

Hands by Mark Gillan

Hands on, hands off, can I give you a hand, I need a hand, can you hand us a tenner please, give the person a big hand. They’re handy with their hands, but there is a time and a place for that. If you’re too handy in the wrong manner, your hands will be placed in cuffs. Handcuffs impede the very reason you have hands, like Malcom McClaren once said, ‘You need hands’, and I tend to agree for the most part.

It’s the people without hands that I most admire.  For whatever reason having no hands, some people have overcome this condition with spectacular results; take Christy Brown for example. I’ve seen some of the most gifted foot or mouth artists create such beauty without any palms or ten digits. Me, I’m incredibly grateful for my pair of hands because by right, I should have only one. That’s why I am also grateful to the surgeon’s hands who saved mine.

So, take the time to reflect how lucky you are and how much you take for granted your hands and picture in everyday life the multitude of uses hands play. Holding, waving, shaking, slapping, pointing, rubbing. If I’m not getting my point across, think about the next time you’re wiping your arse.

To Those We Miss by Noreen Flood

We were a young family coming here from England.  My mother had been told she had breast cancer, as my father had already taken two massive heart attacks. 

We arrived with nothing but a few suitcases mom dad and seven children. 

We were split up.

My older sisters stayed with my mother’s sisters and never moved into our new home in Finglas.  New is a word I wouldn’t use.

We were a very young family losing both parents.  My oldest sister was 21.  Jean looked after us the best she could but she fell pregnant and her partner wanted her to move in with him.

We all moved into town from Finglas as my mom’s family was all we knew.  My sister Jackie was second oldest she was the mother hen of us. Not only to us, to everyone. She was overweight and this was her only downfall.  She would dress us for the holidays the only way she knew, shoplifting. Jackie would have loved Evan’s Shop.  Opened a few years after her death. 

Jackie had an eye for fashion. Even though she couldn’t wear nice little dresses.  She would dress all of us up.  She would show the slim girls the clothes to wear.

I always remember her being called Alison Moyet because she had a big soft heart and loved all and only tried her best for everyone. She never let her size stop her from going to discos. How she loved to dance, and Jackie could move. Jackie would always say we only have each other so don’t let each other down, she was my Hero.

We had our children the same day. And Jackie had her third and me my first. Jackie had her baby two hours later. She is down back in the delivery room with me. She done everything for me and my son.  Even getting her partner to go to Pennrey’s to buy me underwear, etc.

Jackie was a earth angel taken by a drunk driver. She died talking about her three babies aged 3, 2 and 1. How cruel is life. She was so beautiful, yet she made everyone close to her look beautiful. She had a way even with make-up.

God, she didn’t know just how much she was loved because she never believed in any fairytales.

She even seen her death, always saying I won’t see Gemma her three-year-old make her first communion and she didn’t. 

Not a day goes by Jackie that I don’t think of all that you did for us and anyone who needed a good friend. My sister Jackie was the best. Gone, but never forgotten. 

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

Comic_Book

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

buckets_Page_01_Page_01

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

Lo-res - RADE book 2013 pages_Page_01

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

frontier cover

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

bookcover

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

tony class

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