Supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, The 12 Stories of Christmas has recruited some of Ireland’s best-known writers including Cecelia Ahern, Eoin Colfer, Lisa McGee, Shane Hegarty, Roddy Doyle and Louise O’Neill to each write a 200 word introduction for an original Christmas story which children 7-12 are being asked to finish in their own words and then share across social media.

To help bring these wonderful stories to life, each original story introduction will also be read by prominent Irish actors including Hilary Rose and Shane Casey (The Young Offenders), Bronagh Gallagher, Kwaku Fortune, Fionnuala Flaherty and Mairtín Ó Dhubhghaill. Each film will be made available to primary schools along with resource packs for teachers so children can participate in the classroom. The readings will also be broadcast on RTÉ’s Afterschool Hub – and the resource packs for parents/guardians will also be available on the Fighting Words website.

The 12 Stories of Christmas writers include Cecilia Ahern, Eoin Colfer, Lisa McGee, Shane Hegarty, Sheila O’Flanagan, Áine Ni Ghlinn, Roddy Doyle, Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi, Stephen James Smith, Myra Zepf, John McCarthy, Louise O’Neill.

Actors reading The 12 Stories of Christmas include Shane Casey, Hilary Rose, Bronagh Gallagher, Fionnuala Flaherty, Úna Kavanagh, Kwaku Fortune, Amaya Gillespie, Máirtín Ó Dubhghaill, Eoin Mac Diarmada and Muireann Ní Raghallaigh.

To get involved, check out Fighting Words Facebook page and comment underneath each new story reading or post your own and tag Fighting Words, Graffiti Theatre Company and Creative Ireland.