✦ Sligo · Leitrim · Roscommon · Summer 2026
Where young voices find their story
The sheer scale of creativity in young people is infinite — let's reflect this.
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The sheer scale of creativity in young people is infinite — let's reflect this.
SiarScéal is a dynamic arts and literary festival for young people aged 13–18, dedicated to celebrating youth creativity in all its forms. This year's festival takes place in October 2026 at Roscommon Library and Sligo Library.
Young participants — along with their friends and families — will be joined by writer and Creative Coordinator Mary Branley, workshop facilitator Sarah O'Keeffe, and musicians Clíodhna Quinlan and Mark Murphy for a day of readings, performance and celebration.
In the lead-up to the festival, a series of creative workshops takes place at Sligo and Roscommon libraries — giving young people the space to explore storytelling, develop their craft, and contribute to a brand-new collaborative published anthology. This inspiring initiative is proudly funded by Creative Ireland, in partnership with Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon County Councils.
"The sky is the limit — and SiarScéal exists to prove it."
Welcome to SiarScéal Festival 2026! We are proud to celebrate the incredible creativity of young people by bringing their voices into public spaces. If you are aged 13 to 18 and passionate about writing — whether it's poetry, fiction, spoken word, or any other genre — SiarScéal offers you the chance to take part in exciting, free workshops this summer.
Starting in June, libraries across Roscommon and Sligo will host a series of writing workshops led by a professional writer in a welcoming, supportive environment. You will get the chance to explore your creativity, connect with other young writers, and contribute your work to a brand-new publication.
SiarScéal Festival 2026 builds on the success of our previous celebrations of youth writing. The festival culminates in live events at Roscommon Library and Sligo Library this October, where young writers will read and perform their work alongside acclaimed musicians Clíodhna Quinlan and Mark Murphy of GreenBirdFlying. Join us and be part of something truly inspiring — where the sky is the limit.
Running across June and July 2026, our writing workshops take place in libraries throughout Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. All sessions are free and open to young people aged 13–18.
🎉 All workshops are free"Lift off from page to stage. Write, share, rehearse and perform."
The highlight of the SiarScéal year — a full day of live readings, performances, guest speakers and live music. Open to all young people and their families.
SiarScéal has been celebrating young writers and performers across the west of Ireland for years. Here are some highlights from our journey.
Every year, the work of our young participants is published in our Creative E-Zine — a celebration of the extraordinary talent and imagination of young writers across the west of Ireland. Read the latest editions below.
The latest collection of writing, poetry and creative work from young people aged 13–18 across Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon. A testament to the sheer scale of creativity in young people.
Read the 2025 E-Zine →
The 2024 collection showcasing the voices, stories and poems of young people from across the region. Bold, vibrant and full of life — just like the young writers behind it.
Read the 2024 E-Zine →Join a SiarScéal workshop this summer. Every participant gets the opportunity to have their writing featured in our annual Creative E-Zine — read by hundreds of people across Ireland and beyond.
A glimpse into the creativity, energy and inspiration of our workshops and festival days.
SiarScéal launched in 2024 and has grown from strength to strength — celebrating the creativity and talent of young writers across the west of Ireland.
A wonderful year of workshops across Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon culminating in festival days at Roscommon Library and Sligo Library in October. Young writers wowed audiences with live readings, performances and the launch of the Creative E-Zine.
The very first SiarScéal Festival brought together young writers from across the region for a series of creative workshops and a debut festival day celebration. Participants explored poetry, fiction and spoken word — sharing their voices with pride.
"She loves attending the workshops. It's great for her to have a place where she can be creative and be part of a like-minded group."
SiarScéal is brought to life by a small, passionate team of writers, artists and creative facilitators dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Irish voices.
Mary Branley is a poet, writer and musician based in north Sligo. She is the author of three collections of poetry, most recently A Pinch of Snow in a Black Velvet Glove (Lepus Print, 2021). Her poetry has been included in many anthologies including Windharp: Poems of Ireland Since 1916 and The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing.
Mary was awarded the Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship in 2008. Closely associated with Kids' Own Publishing Partnership, she has facilitated children's writing for over twenty-three years across forty-five titles.
She was commissioned to write a libretto on the life of Countess Markievicz, by Ukrainian composer Olesya Zdorovetska, performed at The Model as part of Cairde Festival '23. She has collaborated with GreenBirdFlying since 2021 on poetry/music fusion, with a new CD forthcoming.
Sarah O'Keeffe is a writer, designer and creative facilitator originally from Canada, now proudly based in Sligo. Her work spans comics, children's stories and advocacy writing, with a deep passion for engaging young people in the creative process.
Sarah brings extensive experience in book design and layout, with a particular focus on collaborative and youth-centred publishing projects. Alongside her creative work, she contributes skills in project management and administration — helping to coordinate and deliver arts initiatives from concept to completion.
Her writing has appeared in The Irish Times, Spectrum Magazine, Kids' Own Publishing and Scrimshaw Journal. She lives in Sligo with her husband, son, and their big-hearted Golden Retriever, Simba.
Mark Murphy is a pianist, multi-instrumentalist and music teacher with a long-standing career working alongside a host of north-west based musicians. A deeply versatile performer, Mark brings warmth, craft and improvisational flair to every collaboration.
He is the pianist with jazz group The Kobe Trio, whose debut album was declared one of the finds of 2020 on BBC Radio Ulster — a testament to the group's distinctive and captivating sound.
Clíodhna Quinlan is an accomplished fiddler who has worked and toured with many celebrated artists, including theatre director Mike Scott across several productions and singer Hazel O'Connor.
She arranged and performed strings on the debut album by songwriter and percussionist Rónán Ó'Snodaigh, Tiptoe — bringing her signature sensitivity and depth to every musical project she undertakes.
SiarScéal is made possible through the generous support of our funders and partners, who share our belief in the transformative power of creativity for young people.
SiarScéal is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme and the local authorities of Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon.
All our workshops and events are free. To register for a workshop, contact the facilitator directly. For general enquiries about SiarScéal, reach out to us below.