In 1995, through my involvement with the Center for Independent Living (CIL), I became involved with the CIL Writer's Workshop. The CIL Writer's Workshop first came about when a group of people with disabilities (myself included) met for a number of sessions with singer/songwriter's Christy Moore, and Mark Dignam. Here we shared and compared personal experiences in the form of poetry and music.
Christy and me
In 2001 I started putting some of my poetry to music and since then I and have sung live at various cabarets organised by the Forum of People with Disabilities. I have also appeared on stage at two Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) Awareness Concerts, one as support to Christy Moore on 14th February 2002 and the second as support to the Café Orchestra on 8th March 2003. I have also performed at the Dis/Cover National Arts and Disability / Disability Arts Festival from 1st - 3rd December 2002 in Draiocht Centre for the Arts, Blanchardstown, Dublin.
In June 2003, through my work with Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, I played an active role as an advisor for the making of the movie "Inside I'm Dancing" (aka "Rory O'Shea Was Here"). "Inside I'm Dancing" tells the story of two disabled men's struggle to leave residential care and live s they choose. The character Rory O'Shea (played by James McEvoy) has Muscular Dystrophy, hence my involvement!! To learn more about the movie, click here.
Liam O'Manlanoi (Hot House Flowers) and me, pictured at
the premier
of "Inside I'm Dancing" on 11th October 2004.
Other Previous Performances
• Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, October 2003
• Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin, Dec 2003
• Lisburn Civic Arts Centre , January 2004
• University of Ulster, Jordanstown, January 2004
• Chief O'Neill's, Smithfield, Dublin June 2004
• Montegue Hotel, Portlaoise Nov 2005
• Kenny Pub, Lucan December 2006