Since its inception in 2009, the creative writing programme Fighting Words has reached more than 120,000 children and young people around the country, encouraging them to discover and harness the power of their own imaginations and creative writing skills.

Founded by author Roddy Doyle and Sean Love, Fighting Words provides free workshops in all forms of creative writing and over the past couple of years has expanded access to free services across Ireland with the library services in Wexford, Donegal, Clare, Wicklow, Longford, Waterford and Laois.

Founder Sean Love remarks on the importance of the libraries in running the programme, “The libraries host the workshops for the local schools, with the facilities and friendly welcoming atmosphere and people providing the perfect creative setting. The partnership is a natural fit and very successful. We hope to further expand the service by partnering with libraries in more counties over the coming years”

You can read the fantastic stories written by children participating in the Fighting Words programme here.