Nollaig na mBán - Writing as a Mirror
Date: 6 January 2026
Venue: The Ebrington Hotel, 69-72 Ebrington Square, Derry, Derry, BT47 6FA
This introduction to journaling offers a way of reclaiming 'me time' to give space to process your thoughts, emotions and intentions.
In a world that demands 'New Year, New You' as soon as the hangover is done; when we're still in the throes of winter, and at the beginning of what feels like the longest month, let's take a pause, a breath, a moment to reflect. To walk into the year armed with some gentle writing practices that we can use when the world feels too much.
This introduction to journaling offers a way of reclaiming 'me time' to give space to process your thoughts, emotions and intentions. An opportunity to learn some fun tools to get you started and to carry with you when the blank page feels a bit too much.
Biography
Mel Bradley is a spoken word artist, writer, playwright/ theatre-maker, multimedia artist, actor, creative facilitator and activist. An outspoken queer feminist performer with a candid voice and a passion for pushing women's stories to centre stage. An award-winning performer and two-time All-Ireland Poetry Slam finalist, she now boasts three spoken word shows, and a play. Her work has been published in various anthologies including North Star by Women Aloud NI which won the Carousel Aware Prize Anthologies Award 2024. Her last show, For The Love of Mary, toured the UK and Ireland featuring as part of the Liverpool Irish and Bounce Arts and Glastonbury Festivals.
Mel Bradley | she/her sí/í
[email protected]
https://houseofmel.com
About Waterside Together
Waterside Together is a shared green spaces festival and events project which aims to bring together members of the Catholic, Protestant, and BAME communities across the Waterside in places which are currently considered as being for the 'other community'.
Waterside Together is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and funded under the theme of Community Regeneration and Transformation, and it is also funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council's PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan.
Image credits:
Emmanuel Phaeton from Unsplash. @godslovethroughnature
Sixteen Miles Out - from Unsplash. @sixteenmilesout