Stories of Connection to bring communities together in Buncrana

The Inishowen community is being invited to an inspiring evening of storytelling, connection and conversation this September as the acclaimed ‘Tenx9’ storytelling event comes to Buncrana.

Stories of Connection, taking place at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel on Friday, September 11, will bring together storytellers and audiences for a unique event celebrating the experiences, relationships and encounters that connect us all.

The event follows on from a creative writing and storytelling workshop hosted earlier this year by Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) and I-STAR (Inishowen Standing Together Against Racism).

Led by Paul Doran, co-founder of Tenx9, the workshop encouraged participants from diverse backgrounds to explore storytelling as a way of sharing experiences, building understanding and fostering meaningful connections.

Building on the success of that workshop, IDP and I-STAR have partnered with Tenx9 to bring the renowned storytelling format to Buncrana for the first time.

Connecting Communities coordinator Patricia Higgins of IDP said the event theme, Connections, is open to interpretation and may inspire stories about friendship, family, community, belonging, identity, chance meetings or the people and places that have shaped our lives.

IDP is calling on people to get involved, with a limited number of storyteller places still available. Support and mentoring is provided in advance to anyone interested in sharing a story on the night.

Patricia says after taking part in a previous event she was blown away by the power of the stories shared.

“There was something incredibly encouraging and supportive about the atmosphere, with people feeling comfortable enough to tell deeply personal stories,” she said.

“We have some great stories already lined out and we’re looking forward to hearing from more people and to an evening of powerful, authentic storytelling."

The event is free and open to everyone aged 18 and over. Audience members are encouraged to register in advance via www.inishowen.ie/whats-on