Darragh O’Dempsey, a student at De La Salle College, has published his debut poetry collection, The Serpent’s Hiss, offering a deeply personal glimpse into the emotional landscape of adolescence.
The anthology explores themes of identity, rebellion, love, and loss, drawing from O’Dempsey’s own experiences growing up in Waterford. The young writer describes the work as both autobiographical and therapeutic.
“It’s very autobiographical, full of feelings that I’ve felt of heartbreak and grief and the loss of identity. They’re all etched into the pages,” O’Dempsey said. “I think we’d all combust if we kept it all inside, so it became a very important outlet for me.”
He views poetry as a way to capture emotional moments in time, particularly during periods of transition, such as completing secondary school.
“I think poems are great snapshots and I think of them almost as time capsules of moments, especially with ending in De La Salle and that feeling of nostalgia,” he added.
O’Dempsey explained that the writing process was largely instinctive rather than structured.
“I don’t sit down with the intention of saying this is going to be a sonnet or a dramatic monologue—it just flows out,” he said. “Poetry is very raw and vulnerable, so having the relatability and knowing there’s a person behind the words is important to me.”
The title, The Serpent’s Hiss, symbolizes personal transformation and the shedding of old identities.
“I always found snakes very enticing,” he said. “The shedding of the skin marks coming to the end of my time in De La Salle, and everything that has happened in the last two years. It just felt right to shed the skin and move on.”
The Serpent’s Hiss is now available and marks the beginning of what may be a promising literary journey for the young Waterford poet.
