Littlepace school in 1916 comic book project launch

The Lucky Penny, a 1916 Primary School Art and Literature Commemoration Project by three Dublin 15 sixth classes, from Scoil Mhuire Senior School, Blakestown, Scoil Thomais Laurel Lodge, Castleknock, and  Mary Mother of Hope, Castaheany, Clonee, was launched this week in Draoicht in Blanchardstown.

This exhibition is the result of an innovative and fun-filled arts and literature schools project which ran from November 2015 to April 2016, commemorating 1916.
The project began with an epic tour over a month to over 3,000 sixth class and first year Dublin 15 pupils by  Castleknock author Brian Gallagher, who spoke to each of the 107 classes in 31 schools and read an extract from his book 'Friend of Foe', set in 1916.

In ‘Friend or Foe’, Emer, a character of similar age to our young participants, is stopped and searched by British Soldiers. Emer is scared as she secretly carries a Fenian message in her pocket. On empting her pockets, a penny coin falls … It is from this penny and in this moment that our cartoon project with illustrator, writer and cartoonist, Alan Nolan began.

Out of the 107 classes who started the project, three Dublin 15 sixth classes were picked to continue on. They began to imagine what would happen to that penny as it moved across a revolutionary Dublin, making its way through the misery, chaos and upheaval of war. Over a 10 week period, pupils worked exhaustively, using themes and hints from Brian’s book, along with learning from tours to Collins Barracks and research from a rousing historical bus tour across Dublin city. With these experiences, along with research with their fantastic class teachers, they began to shape and build characters and stories that, with the help of Alan would slowly develop into a full length comic book cartoon, full of adventure and peril. Their cartoon characters go all over Dublin, from the GPO, where they are let in by Padraig Pearse himself, then giving secret messages to Countess Markievicz in St Stephen’s Green and in the thick of it they go to Kilmainham Gaol with English soldiers.

The finished cartoon strips have now been professionally edited and printed onto large scale vinyl for exhibition in Draíocht’s First Floor Gallery. The exhibition and project are accompanied by a full colour published comic book for each pupil, along with a short film documentary screened at the exhibition opening and given to each child as a memento. Each child also gets a copy of Brian Gallagher’s book ‘Friend of Foe’.

The Lucky Penny Exhibition continues until Saturday 23 July 2016 in Draiocht’s First Floor Gallery and all are welcome to come along to see it.

This project was made possible by funding from Fingal County Council and the Centenary Committee.

Sarah Beirne, Children & Youth Arts Officer, Draiocht said: ‘We hope this publication will act as a lasting reminder of the experience and great effort of each of our classes and that they can be proud that in the year we celebrated and commemorated the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising with projects, events and programmes all across Ireland, they also celebrated the publication of their first book.’

Brian Gallagher, Author, said: ‘What a journey these lucky pennies made! My character’s coin and the Easter Rising were simply starting points, after which the children’s imaginations took them in directions I’d never have anticipated. But that’s part of the magic of books – an author sends a story out into the world, never knowing what response it will produce in readers. And sometimes, as in this case of The Lucky Penny, one writer’s creation sparks off creativity in others. So well done to all concerned.’

Cartoonist Alan Nolan, said: ‘The enthusiasm and engagement of the children with the project through weeks of writing, designing and planning, and weeks of producing brilliant artwork to match the vision held so long in their heads was a joy to watch. I am very proud of each and every one of the 6th class students from Scoil Thomáis, Scoil Mhuire and Mary Mother of Hope National School. They worked so hard, with such energy, ingenuity and artistry – and they even managed to have fun while they were doing it! They are a credit to their teachers and their families and I know they will go on to be just as creative and enthusiastic as they go into secondary school.’