Supported as part of the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund, with additional funding being provided by Fingal County Council, Our Place Our Stories was a project which facilitated a collaboration between Draíocht’s six leading artist partners and six key communities of interest in Dublin 15.

Colm’s work with Foróige helped to encourage young men to explore themes relevant to their experience and to recognise the uniqueness of these experiences. Through spoken word, Colm’s workshops motivated participants to explore the stories they felt needed to be told and through individual and collective artistic empowerment helped to shape those stories.

With the emphasis for participants on articulation rather than performance, Our Place Our Stories culminated on Culture Night, 20th September 2019, with commissioned work drawing on the artist partner’s experiences of the workshops screened in Draíocht, followed by a live performance of the commissioned work, including Colm’s piece Volcano.

‘Colm Keegan has worked with Draíocht over a number of years.  In 2019, he was part of the artists team on the ‘Our Place, Our Stories’ project, funded by Creative Ireland.  For this project, Colm worked with a group of young men from the D15 area (supported by Foróige, Blanchardstown) and through that engagement Colm facilitated the participants write and perform their own work, work that was important and meaningful to them.   These were filmed and shared widely.   The project also included a commission element which enabled Colm to create a new piece entitled ‘Volcano’.  A powerful piece inspired by his experience of engagement with the group.  This was also filmed and performed live on Culture Night 2019 in Draíocht as part of an evening of presentation work of the groups/individuals and artists involved.’ – Eimear McGowen, Director, Draíocht