Scéal? Collaboration project exploring respect and identity

AWriter and spoken-word poet Emmet O’Brien recently led poetry workshops in Coláiste de hÍde in Tallaght, as part of the Scéal? project.

As part of the project, the young people created their own poetry with Emmet’s guidance, and it will soon culminate in the development of a mural in the school informed by the students’ creations.

Teaching young people is something that Emmet, who has released three books and is well-known in Dublin’s spoken-word scene, thoroughly enjoys, along with sharing his passion for poetry.

He also recently gave a talk to second year students in Tallaght Community School about poetry and Irish history, which was a fulfilling experience for the talented poet.

Emmet told The Echo about when poetry switched from being an interest into a passion, why he enjoys the performance element of his style of poetry, and the importance of young people discovering their passion.

When did you write your first poem?

I think I was around 14. I used to write as a coping mechanism, it helped me process a lot of traumatic things that had happened or issues I was facing in school etc.

Writing was always just a natural go-to, it felt right to me. Letters or memos naturally turned into poems because I was studying the same for my Junior Cert.

It was something I didn’t really take notice of at the beginning either.

Not until I was about 17 and went back to read some and thought I had some form of talent when it came to writing.

If not talent, then some truth as to what life is like being a teen in the inner city.

When did poetry progress from an interest into a passion?

When I started to see people perform and got into on-stage poetry performance.

Writing, to me, is secondary – which is definitely strange – but I get more excited to perform, being on stage and making a crowd react to what you say and moves you make. I saw a lot of people on stage getting reactions from a crowd and it engrossed me.

To have 100 people in a room crying, laughing, thinking, within a 30-minute space, is incredible. That was and still is what encapsulates me.

What do you find most fulfilling about being a writer?

The most fulfilling part is when you finish a piece of writing, and you are satisfied.

People often overlook the power that coming from an empty page to a completed piece of art is.

It’s all our own work. Putting the pen down, reading a poem to a friend for the first time, and waiting for the reaction is heart racing.

You’ve recently been selected to lead poetry workshops in Coláiste de hÍde for the Scéal? Project. What is Scéal about?

Scéal? Is a project I am immensely proud of. It is the third project in the ongoing Story? Series.

It is a collaboration between Grainne Walker from Creative Connections, artist Kevin Bohan, myself and Coláiste de hÍde. Scéal? is a mural and poetry-based project exploring what Respect (Meas) and Identity (Féiniúlacht) mean to the students and staff of Coláiste de hÍde, how they are connected to the school’s core values and how respect for oneself and others is paramount.

The Scéal? project is funded by the South Dublin County Council Community Mural Grant. I started workshopping on March 20 in the school. When Grainne and Kev asked me, I was delighted.

What were your thoughts when you found out you’d been selected to lead the workshops?

Teaching was the first job I ever wanted to do, but unfortunately due to a bad Leaving Cert and dropping out of college, it was never an option.

I have a passion for teaching the youth because when you have a child who self-believes, the limits are endless.

Children have a beautiful innocence with regards to how high they can reach once they apply themselves, and it works. Sometimes we need to be fearless, make the mistakes, learn from them, and develop.

Why do you feel it’s important for young people to engage in creating their own poetry?

I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s important for children to engage with poetry, but I think it is vital that children meet people who have found their passion in life, so that they can do the same.

Having ambition and drive is something we need to distill into the mentality of children and teenagers. We all have some form of passion in this world, and we all deserve to taste success and accomplishment.

As long as I teach, I may not be the best poetry teacher, but I definitely will be the most passionate – nobody can doubt how much I love to work.

And teaching that to a child will provide success that money can’t buy.

For more information, follow @emmet_obrien_poetry on Instagram.

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