Fingal Community College celebrates book gifting presentation and screenwriting course

Transition year students in Fingal Community College, Swords, received a major contribution to their library and copies of books by award-winning author Dave Rudden yesterday as part of Fingal Libraries book gifting programme under the Community Recognition Fund.

The presentation also marked the culmination of the ‘From TY To TV’ screenwriting course, which Dave has been delivering to transition year students in the school over the past number of weeks.

The Community Recognition Fund is a major initiative from the Department of Rural and Community Development, designed to specifically support communities across the country that are hosting people from Ukraine and other countries.

Book gifting programmes are also taking place in Blanchardstown and Baleskin.

Copies of Dave Rudden’s Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy were presented to Fingal Community College by the Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Adrian Henchy.

The Mayor was joined by County Librarian Betty Boardman, Dave Rudden and film producer Ali Doyle.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Adrian Henchy said: “I am delighted that Fingal Libraries are gifting this series of novels to Fingal Community College as part of the Community Recognition Fund.

“This is a great way to recognise the huge contribution being made by communities in Fingal in welcoming and hosting people from Ukraine and other countries seeking protection and safety”.

County Librarian Betty Boardman said: “Book gifting helps foster a love of reading among young people and Fingal Libraries is very pleased to present transition year students with copies of the Borrowed Dark trilogy through the Community Recognition Fund.

Fingal Libraries would also like to thank Fingal Community College and Dave Rudden for working with us to give these students the opportunity of developing their creative writing skills on the ‘From TY To TV’ course”.

Speaking about the screenwriting workshops, Dave Rudden said, “I have greatly enjoyed guiding students through the steps necessary to devise and pitch their very own television show or film, as well as offering industry experience, writing advice and encouragement to young people who may be the next Spielberg or Gerwig”.

In the final workshop of the screenwriting course, which took place before the book gifting presentation, students got to meet film producer Ali Doyle (The Nice Guys, Ted 2, Evil Dead Rise).

This gave them a valuable opportunity to share their ideas and receive feedback on their work from a professional producer.