Copyright, Coláiste Chill Mhantáin, 2022

1

Breaking Free

Selection of Student Creative Writing

Coláiste Chill Mhantáin
2021/2022

2

Table of Contents

Introduction

Creativity in CCM, Padraig Donoghue, 5

Freeing Experience, Paul Martin 7

So What's Creativity...? 9

CCM Creative Writing Awards 2022 11

Poetry

Firework, Katy Perry 16

Plastic Bag, Daniel Clarke, 1st Year 17

Plastic Bag, Sam Behan, 1st Year 18

Living not Thriving, Abbie Maie Delaney, 1st Year 19

Soaring Through the Sky, Conall Nolan, 1st Year 20

A Cold Day at the Beach, Isabella Kenny, 1st Year 23

Away from Ukraine, Cathal Cannon, 1st Year 25

The Raven, Chandrakant Humraskar, 1st Year 26

Pink, Rebeka Radmanic, 3rd Year 28

3

Poetry

Expansive Escape, Kyle Ferguson, 1st Year 29

Marcus Rashford, Connor Kelly, 1st Year 31

In the Moment, Abbie Mai Delaney, 1st Year 32

Short Stories

For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn, Matthew Porter, TY 35

Wings of the Valiant, Saoirse McInerney, TY 39

Saudade, Diána Matusevica, TY 45

Dust up in Dubai, Sophie Kennedy, TY 53

Bogota Bust, Ben Bowen, TY 59

4

Loading...

Creativity in CCM

Loading...

The last two years have been difficult for us all and especially for young people. This period has shaped and informed such a significant phase in the growth of our students' lives. It has asked them to constantly draw upon their inner resources as they adapt to a changing world and reality. I often reflect on the resilience our students have demonstrated during this period and I trust that as they navigated that time they have acquired and refined skills that will support them into the future on whatever path they choose.

As we now emerge slowly from Covid, “Breaking Free” was chosen as the theme for CCM's new Creative Writing selection. This recognises the physical and emotional "liberation" for students and aims to provide the creative spur for them to express their often vivid and uplifting thoughts, perceptions and emotions. Self-expression, through creativity, and responding imaginatively to events and the challenges that life presents are important attributes for a young person to develop and that is why they also hold such an important position in Coláiste Chill Mhantáin's whole school experience.

I have very much enjoyed reading these poems and short stories. They remind me again of the gifts of creativity, imagination and empathy which abound within our school community. Every student whose work has been published in this ebook should be proud of their accomplishment and the legacy they have created. However, I would especially congratulate the two winners in each writing category - Sam Behan and Cathal Cannon in the poetry category - Saoirse McInerney & Matthew Porter in the short story category. 

Loading...

In CCM we always seek to nurture and treasure the creative talents and individuality of every student. This may take many forms and next year we hope to include other means of expression in our on-going creativity programmes. I remain indebted to our teaching team for their vision in relation to projects of this nature and I know you all have enjoyed working with your teachers to bring this project to fruition.

Finally I would sincerely congratulate and thank every contributor to this wonderful writing selection. Entering their world of imagination has been a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy reading this writing selection as much as I have.

Kind regards,

Padraig Donoghue
Principal

Loading...

5

Loading...

In CCM we always seek to nurture and treasure the creative talents and individuality of every student. This may take many forms and next year we hope to include other means of expression in our on-going creativity programmes. I remain indebted to our teaching team for their vision in relation to projects of this nature and I know you all have enjoyed working with your teachers to bring this project to fruition.

Finally I would sincerely congratulate and thank every contributor to this wonderful writing selection. Entering their world of imagination has been a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy reading this writing selection as much as I have.

Kind regards,

Padraig Donoghue
Principal

Loading...

Loading...

Loading...

6

Freeing Experience

Creativity plays an enormous role in the education and life-enhancement of everyone in our school community. It helps us to respond to challenges and to appreciate the richness of our world and the people in it.

Maya Angelou once said “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have”. Dipping into this selection of poems and stories exemplifies this wonderfully. So many were conceived in response to fundamental questions - how would you feel if...what would you think if….

·       How would you feel if you were a plastic bag drifting in the air or a flying bird looking down below?

·       How would you describe someone who inspires you or how a story or the world around you made you feel?

·       What would you experience if, enclosed in your home for two years, you let your mind and imagination roam free?

You don't need to explore much further. It's all here within these covers. These writing take us to Canada, Dubai, Columbia, Ukraine, America, Japan, England, America, New Zealand, Australia and to many natural worlds and imagined places too.

Every day teachers in CCM witness the wealth of students' talent. This selection of poems and short stories/prose just scratches the surface. We are so lucky to work in a school that brims with creative potential. The talent of students is so evident. As is their deep compassion, empathy and ingenuity. 

7

In preparing this ebook, I would like to thank every student who contributed and to the teachers in the English department, especially Declan McInerney and Elaine Lyons. Many teachers expressed their admiration and how very moved they were reading these writings. We hope your response to this creative experience will be as equally powerful and enjoyable.

Finally, I would echo Mr. Donoghue's warm congratulation to every student selected for inclusion and especially to the four winners across the two categories. It has been a privilege to work with these young writers over recent months and a real pleasure to read their work.

Thank you all. And PLEASE stay creative and keep writing!

Kind regards,

Paul Martin 

8

So What's Creativity...?

9

Creativity in Schools - Sir Ken Robinson Ted Talk

10

CCM Creative Writing Awards 2022

Mr. Donoghue and Mr. Martin are pictured with CCM's 2022 Creative Writing Award Winners:

Sam Behan, 1 Foyle (Overall Winner, Poetry, Plastic Bag), Matthew Porter, TY (Merit Award, Short Story category, For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn), Saoirse McInerney, TY (Overall Winner, Short Story category, Wings of the Valiant).

Cathal Cannon, 1 Liffey (Merit Award, Poetry, Away from Ukraine) not present 

11