My TY

We're meant to be the land of saints and scholars, but where can young people go to develop their creativity?

What do Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, James Joyce and Seán O'Casey have in common? They all used ferries to make good their getaways.

So adverts for Dublin Port around the capital tell us that many artists have had to leave Ireland to be recognised for their art. All around the country are plaques, memorials and celebrations for these literary giants. Yet these artists got out of Ireland as soon as they could, because of the cultural stagnation here at the time. Their genius wasn't recognised. I bet there are still artists in this land of the Celtic Tiger struggling to be acknowledged.

Young people who care about art and writing need a place to meet and share ideas, for peer support and encouragement, much as adult writers have the Irish Writers' Centre, on Parnell Square in Dublin. Is there such a place or will there be more exiles like Joyce and O'Casey?

In Ireland we have a great reputation for culture and the arts - the land of saints and scholars - yet there still seems to be very little support for budding artists. From medieval to modern times, Ireland has been known for its writers, actors, musicians and painters. I've often wondered how they keep coming through, when there's so little support for up-and- coming artists.

Many tourists come here in search of Irish culture, and they are directed to Temple Bar - mistakenly, perhaps. Temple Bar was created with visions of its being a Bohemian centre of the city, a free-spirited place for art and creativity. It has turned out quite differently: Temple Bar is a bit of a sell-out and is very tourist focused. Temple Bar has some good music venues, clubs and galleries, but they are not accessible to teenagers.

There are few artistic venues where young people can perform or exhibit. I love Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane, especially the feeling of wonder I get when I visit the Francis Bacon Studio. (He died the day I was born.) But this is one of the only places where I feel comfortable. In a lot of formal galleries you almost feel you shouldn't be there, because of the valuable nature of the paintings.

Creativity is not encouraged in young people the way it should be. I wish there was a place where art was just there to be enjoyed and not treated so preciously, a place for free expression through whatever medium.

Michelle MacDonagh is a student at Loreto College, St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2