Inspireland have been achieving the impossible in secondary schools since 2007. Our TY and CBA Creative Writing, Oral and Poetry Workshops are regarded by all who take part in them, as not just among the highlights of their school year, but of their school lives.
In 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we set up our online creative summer camps. Formerly held at the Irish Institute of Art & Design Technology in Dun Laoghaire, and at Limerick School of Art & Design, they have proved to be an absolute sensation.
We have developed a philosophy and method of engaging young people online that is exciting, fun and in tune with the technologies and trends that inspire them.
MEET THE FOUNDER
Stephen Murray is the author of three critically acclaimed poetry collections, with Salmon Poetry, he has been delivering poetry and creative writing workshops for TY & Junior Cycle Students since 2007. His first collection, ‘House of Bees’ chronicled his childhood experiences of gender-based violence, and his journey living in the historical (first ever) Womens Aid Shelter in London, foster care and a residential children’s home. His workshops centre on creating awareness on how the language of social narratives in popular culture can undermine, radicalise, and groom us. The aim of the workshops is to empower students with the awareness and skillset to recognise these harmful social narratives and to rewrite their own. He has worked extensively devising courses for Special Education Programmes as well as the JCSP Libraries Programme, Leave Cert Applied and youth groups across the island of Ireland. His work has featured on the BBC, RTE, The Irish Times, TV3, Network 2, The Independent, The Stinging Fly and many other publications and media channels.
Dr Jenny Murray
- Principal Psychologist (Clinical). CAMHS Neurodevelopmental team, Aspire Alternative Provision Bucks and Founder & Clinical Director, Berkshire Psychology.
Dr Jenny Murray has been involved in assessing and providing interventions for adults and children with a wide range of needs including social, emotional, behavioural and mental health
difficulties, autism and learning disabilities. She is currently working within an alternative Educational provision as the CAMHS link psychologist, providing assessments and interventions for young people with complex needs, as well as providing staff training and consultation.
Private: Tim Myers
- Head Developer/General Manager
Tim is the co-founder of the Inspireland Online Learning Platform. He governs all levels of business and accounts, including managing, editing, and production of media content. he designs and maintains a unique, captivating learning resource, promoting Inspireland’s brand image in the best possible way. Excellence in editing, producing and proofreading high-quality written material. Tim has a first-class honours MA in English from the University of Limerick. He tutored in Academic Writing at the Writing Centre at the University of Limerick for two years.
Ailen Geraghty
- English & Digital Education Lead, International College Dundee, University of Dundee
Aileen is responsible for providing support to staff and students and contributing to the development of the English curriculum. She acts as an Adviser of Studies and is also a member of the College’s Digital team. She is the Head of English and Digital Education at Dundee University, she specialises in the area of developing English language and literacy practices for the digital world.
Anastasia Pappas
- Image and Branding Consultant
Creative strategist and copywriter with over two decades of experience across MTV (during its cultural peak) HBO, VH-1, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street. She has written copy for high-profile talent including Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyonce and Samuel Jackson. She co-produced, packaged and directed Eddie Izzard’s stand up special, Circle. At Inspireland she helped develop the website and logo, and contributed poetry displayed at the Linn Dara Juvenile Mental Hospital in Dublin. She currently works as a screenwriter for Heartland Films – a production company based in Los Angeles and Moscow.