Short story: ‘Every time you tell me I’m pretty, the more comfortable I feel in my own skin’
A story by Claire Harty, age 17, Co Limerick
Fighting Words
Young Irish Writing
Poem: ‘I had a little house, I knew that it wouldn’t pick itself up’
A poem by Zuzanna Snioszek, age 16, St Oliver’s Community College, Co Louth
Short story: ‘The octopus felt the weight of every lost life. All three of its hearts ached silently’
A story by Marysia Tomczak, age 18, Co Cork
Short story: On the slopes of Slieve Gullion, a forbidden book was opened
A story by writers at React Armagh Youth Group, which supports young people through programmes focused on personal development, creativity and community participation
Scéal: An Cailín Nár Thug Éinne Faoi Deara
Scéal a scríobh grúpa a d’fhreastal ar cheardlann Fighting Words na Gaeilge ag an bhFéile Lasta
‘What’s for dinner?’ she asked. Heinz, not Bachelor’s. I’d made that mistake before. As a bachelor
A story by Ciarán McCabe, a teacher at Coláiste na hInse, Laytown, Co Meath
Scéal: Teach Mhamó
Caitríona Ní Raifeartaigh, aois 17, Coláiste Chroí Mhuire, An Spidéal, Co na Gaillimh
The Last Letter: ‘In your memory, I’m still here and things are still okay’
A story by Kay Joyce, age 17, Co Roscommon
Poem: ‘The puddle opened up to me, a safe place – my imagination’
A poem by Leonie Hanan, age 18, Co Down
Scéal: An Doras Beag
Tháinig grúpa scríbhneoirí ón Idirbhliain i Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin ar an gCeathrú Rua le chéile i Leabharlann na Ceathrún Rua ‘chuile Aoine ar feadh sé seachtaine do ‘Club Cleite’. Seo thíos ceann de na scéalta a d’eascair as na seisiúin seo
Three calls, straight to voicemail. I realised I would never see you again
A story by Charlee Rutherford, age 16, Co Donegal
Short story: A pickle and cucumber get married in Vegiland. Then The Blender shows up
An extract from a story by 4th and 5th class, Christ the King Boys National School, Cabra, Dublin
Poem: ‘When the leaves rust red and fall down dead, the fifth season begins’
A poem by Oscar Daunt Brennan, age 18, Dublin
‘You’re in my seat,’ he said to the woman. Then the driver came in
A play written by participants from Coolmine House, Amiens Street, Dublin
Everything comes full circle on Omey Island. Iomaí translates as ‘resting place’
A story by Eabha McLaughlin, age 17, Co Mayo
Poem: ‘I honoured a woman who wasn’t my mother, but who had treated me like her son’
A poem by Clodagh Maye, age 16, Co Kilkenny
Poem: ‘I feel sorry for those little old machines. They’ll never see the bark of ancient evergreens’
A poem by Robyn Yelverton McKiernan, age 15, Dublin
A goat named Cornelius: ‘In fairness, you can’t be giving a dog’s name to a goat’
A story by writers at Drogheda Youthreach, which supports young people outside mainstream schooling, offering creative and vocational learning opportunities
‘Frail, dust-coated and desperate’: A soldier cradled the young man, drowning in a sea of concrete
A story by Líle-Grace Mullan, age 15, Dublin
Fighting Words: ‘The sheer creative power could never be replicated by AI’
Author Catherine Prasifka opens this year’s Fighting Words magazine in The Irish Times, which showcases creative writing from young people across Ireland
Author Djamel White: ‘I didn’t feel like I fit in at school or at home’
After dropping out, the debut novelist went on to study creative writing, eventually gaining a master’s. Now, he is happy to represent kids who don’t quite fit the system
Them’s Fighting Words with Roddy Doyle review: A fun portrait of 21st-century teenage creativity
Television: The good work done by Fighting Words on the north side of Dublin is celebrated in this agreeable, if at times workmanlike, documentary
Letters to the Editor May 19th: On famine in Gaza, cars as weapons and scrapping Sevens Rugby
Palestinians could starve to death in the coming weeks unless immediate action is taken
Letters to the Editor, May 15th: On TikTok teachers, dereliction, power and money addicts
‘Trend raises deeper questions about what we value in education’
The Book, Bartholemew and The Ghostbusters
An extract from a story by fourth class, St Mary’s and St Gerard’s National School, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow
The Journey to the Go-Cart
An extract from a story by third class, St Vincent’s Primary School, Cork
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices