Tenx9

Three fantastic stories & a mini-story on the theme Getaway told in the Black Box in Belfast on August 21: PD has a mini-story of cross-community love; first-timer Bob Salisbury meets his nemesis “The Skull”; Donna Hunter’s second home becomes indelibly connected to her first; Paul Hutchinson reveals why part of his granny will always be in Millisle.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

Tenx9 was at so many Summer festivals this year, we’ve gathered four stories from four locations: Leighann McConville has the wisdom of King Canute at Féile; Walker Ewart has an adult dilemma at EastSide Arts Festival; Sean Mullin has an epiphany in the labour ward from Fiddlers Green; Heather Fleming has a caravan in a hurricane at Soma. Paul is your host.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

Our events are always free no matter where they are held in the world but we do suggest people make a small contribution to help cover overheads on their way out, if they wish.

Three nights, four stories from July & August: David Braziel meets his first & only love; Donna Feehan weds the love of her life amid great generosity; Jesse Arthur mourns the aunt he only got to love later in life; Nuala McKeever loves the Westerns while her brother heads off for adventure & there’s a special message from Australia. Paul is your host.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

To mark our evening with EastSide Arts Festival on August 4th, here is a bonus pod featuring Gaynor Kane & her story of the paradise wedding that could have been hell!

On a beautiful summer evening, the Black Box was filled to capacity for our annual tenx9 in conjunction with Belfast Pride. Always a great evening, here are four amazing stories: Maureen Boyle with a tale of shared interests & intimacy in the USA; Tony Doyle on how he got through those difficult straight teenage years; Kirsty Mulholland who found support where she had feared rejection; Fidelma Carolan who realised God isn’t just for the “straights”. Paul is your host.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

July has been a busy month & here are four stories from three events: Paul Hutchinson takes the waters at Ballyhenry; Maighread Kennedy shares a room with her parents & multiple siblings until an upgrade; Rosie Currie meets someone who is tall, dark & handsome but no stranger; Jonathan McDonald & his grandad go to Africa. Paul is your host.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

Our events are always free no matter where they are held in the world

Here is a bonus pod featuring Malachí O’Doherty with an hilarious tale involving Monte Carlo, a world famous author & chilled red wine plus an outrageous revelation by Paul about his trip to Monaco. Recorded in Bangor on July 5th 2019 as part of the Seaside Revival weekend.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

Our events are always free no matter where they are held in the world.

On July 3rd in Belfast’s Black Box, nine first timers told their story of Belonging in Belfast. Here are four of them & a little bonus: Dave Thompson enters the Orange Order Song Contest; Geraldine McCormick fails to exhale; Orla McKeating embraces the city she had left behind; Niamh Kavanagh grows up on the road between Dublin & Belfast. Paul is your host.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

Our events are always free no matter where they are held in the world.

Three more stories from our June 19 event in the Black Box in Belfast - a collaboration with the Belfast Photo Festival: Ben Ritchie tracks down his great-grandfather’s grave from the Great War; Jim Livingstone & son track down a High Mass with a hangover; Eddy Baker tracks down his namesake - LA rapper Eddy Baker. Paul is your host.

Tenx9 is a monthly storytelling event where nine people have up to ten minutes to tell a true story from their own life on a particular theme. It began in Belfast in 2011, started by Pádraig Ó Tuama & Paul Doran, and as well as filling the main venue in the Black Box, it has spread to Scotland, England, USA, Canada, Netherlands & Australia.

While it draws on the tradition of oral storytelling, we also encourage the shy, the nervous & the reticent - some people are confident speakers other use notes or the full text.

We work with people via email or workshops to edit and improve their stories, to help them find their voice.

We have also worked with prisoners as well as young people who have been in the care system.

Our events are always free no matter where they are held in the world

This story was told in Belfast at the Black Box on 24 April 2019 when the theme was Guilt. It was told by John McFarlane, his first story at tenx9. It should also have featured in Podcast 096 but something went wrong with that upload. So here it is: “There are no medals…”