Colm Keegan leads Saturday Walkshops along the Dodder
This July, writer and poet Colm Keegan invites creatives to join hum for a series of three creative writing workshops set along the River Dodder. Titled The Saturday Walkshops, the sessions offer a blend of mindful walking, imaginative prompts, and group sharing, providing a relaxed and supportive space to “leave the clutter of urban sprawl to reconnect with nature and myth as inspiration for poetry”.
Keegan, an award-winning Dublin poet, brings a deep personal connection to the Dodder. He uses the workshops to explore the myths, realities, and emotional resonance of an urban river as it winds through the neighbourhoods of his home town. Across the three sessions, he invites writers to consider the river not just as landscape, but as a living narrative, one that mirrors the complexity of modern life and the hidden currents of imagination.
Produced by The School of Looking, also known as Cleary Connolly, The Saturday Walkshops are part of CATCHMENTS 2025, a nationwide arts programme supported by a Research Ireland Discover Award. The initiative aims to promote environmental awareness through creative engagement with Ireland’s waterways.
The first workshop, on Saturday July 12th, begins at Kiltipper Woods Care Centre and follows the route to Boharnabreehna Reservoir and back. Writing will take place in Kiltipper Nursing Home. On Saturday July 19th, the second workshop begins at Aherns Oldbawn and traces a route from the Dodder Waterfall to Balrothery Weir, ending at The Edge Café, where participants will write together in a communal space. The final session, on Saturday July 26th, follows the Whitestown Stream to Balrothery Weir and continues to The Edge Café. Beginning at the Maldron Hotel in Tallaght, this walkshop focuses on the role of tributaries and the folk history of the area.
The Saturday Walkshops are free of charge and open to writers of all levels, with booking available through Eventbrite. Each walkshop runs from 11 am to 1.30 pm and includes time for writing and discussion. Participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for walking and weather conditions and to bring a notebook or journal.
