The 100 Years Project

What is the 100 Years Project?

The 100 Years Project is part of the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 initiative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts Gaeltacht, Sport & Media in Ireland. 

Fighting Words & Fighting Words NI have organized creative writing workshops and projects with school students at primary and post-primary levels around the question: What was life like for children and young people on the island of Ireland a hundred years ago? 

The aim is to contribute to the Decade of Centenaries objectives regarding reconciliation, understanding of shared history, reflection of identities, and responding to historical context in an interesting and apolitical way

What have we done to date?

• Workshops: Fighting Words and Fighting Words NI have run over 240 Time Capsule workshops since 2021 in English and as Gaeilge, with more happening every week! Read the stories here! Click here for more information and to find out how to sign up for your class. 

• Write Club Anthology: Joint sessions of Write Club in Ireland and Northern Ireland were provided with special prompts to address the themes of the 100 Years Project, resulting in an anthology of plays, poems and short stories. The online version of the anthology is available to read here. 

• Playwriting Project:  Fighting Words and Fighting Words NI invited alumnae from our programmes to create new short plays, interpreting the theme of centenaries. The plays were published and performed on stage at the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theater. Read the article in The Irish Times about the event here.

• Twinning Events: These events were presented as an option to any class which had previously participated in a 100 Years workshop. During these online events, schools from the Republic of Ireland were paired with schools in Northern Ireland. Class groups were invited to share their 100 Years stories and receive positive feedback from each other, with an emphasis on celebrating creativity and building a cross-border relationship between schools.

• Podcast: 100 Years Project Coordinator Seán Farrelly is joined by four guests - Kaila Patterson, Róisín Faughnan, Aindreas Fallon Verberuggen and Bríd-Treasa Wyndham - to discuss different aspects of the 100 Years Project. Listen to the 100 Years podcast episode here. 

How can my class be involved?

Teachers! You can bring The 100 Years project into your classroom by clicking on the resources below.

• Click here for Primary Schools

• Click here for Secondary Schools

Want to see more?

click the link below to access our digital archive looking back at the whole project.

• Digital archive

Special Challenge: Build Your Own Time Capsule!

As part of the 100 Years project, Fighting Words would like to invite you to share your time capsule with us - either with your class or at home!

1. Step One: Choose a Duration for Your Time Capsule

How long do you expect it to stay sealed? Will it be opened five years in the future, or a hundred? Is it for your future self or someone in the distant future?

2. Step Two: Select a Container

How long will your collection of objects last? Do you want to use something simple, like a shoebox, or something that can be buried? If you intend to bury it, how could you make it weather-proof?

3. Step Three: Fill It with Important Objects

Who will open your time capsule, and what would you like to tell them about the present day? What toys, tech or tools could you include? What labels, packaging or price tags might be interesting for someone in the future to discover? Could you put in some clothes or currency?

4. Step Four: Write a Letter to the Future

What would you like your future audience to know about your daily life? Are there any current fads, fashions or attitudes that might be relevant? What are your hopes and dreams for your chosen period? Is there anything you're curious about? 

5. Step Five: Decide Where to Store Your Capsule

Is there a way to remind yourself of when and where it should be opened? Is there a special place in your school or garden where you could bury it? If you decide to create a more short-term capsule above ground, how could you keep it safe? 

Read about a real life example found in Scotland here for inspiration.

Don’t forget to share the results on social media with #FW100Years #WritetoRight and tag us @FightingWords and @FightingWordsNI

Workshops with Adults Too!

The project has also involved workshops with adults, reflecting on past identities and our collective wishes for a brighter and more connected future.

For More Information:

• In Republic of Ireland: 100years@fightingwords.ie
• In Northern Ireland: 100years@fightingwords.co.uk