An Appreciation Celebration for Co-Founders Roddy Doyle and Seán Love

An Appreciation Celebration for Roddy Doyle and Seán Love

The Fighting Words community came together to celebrate our co-founders!

On Friday, 24 March 2023, a gathering of friends, volunteer mentors, past programme participants and staff came together to celebrate Fighting Words co-founders Roddy Doyle and Seán Love. Roddy and Seán announced in February that they were both stepping back from their roles as Chair of the Board and Executive Director. 

While Roddy remains on the board and Seán has moved to the role of Director of Strategic Partnerships, we had to mark the occasion! The gathering was an opportunity to say a massive THANK YOU to them for their vision, leadership and guidance for the past 15 years.

Expressing Appreciation

Speakers included Fighting Words Chair Alan Gilsenan, former Write Club member, Young Playwrights alum Rachel Thornton, longtime volunteer mentor Colm Hearne and Operations Manager Sara Bennett.

There was much laughter - and a few tears - as each speaker touched on what Fighting Words means to them and how the organisation has touched their lives and the lives of so many young people.

Roddy and Seán were presented with a booklet of thoughts and memories by friends of Fighting Words and a print of the holding page of the Fighting Words website from 2007.

A Great Gathering of Friends

We were delighted to welcome colleagues from Fighting Words Northern Ireland, Graffiti Theatre Company in Cork, Limerick Libraries and volunteer mentors from Dublin, Wicklow and other locations to share stories over delicious food from our friends and neighbours at Wallace's Asti.

The original holding page of the Fighting Words website noted that "everybody is welcome" - and that is still the case.