Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which began last Monday and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney, of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this eighth chapter, we are introduced to Eve’s homeless friend Katie, who has been declared ‘missing’ from her Donegal home

Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which began last Monday and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney (right), of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this seventh chapter, Eve goes through her morning routine to revive her after a night on the streets... then makes a discovery

Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which began on Monday and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney (right), of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this sixth chapter, a shocking encounter as Eve sleeps rough — and the sad story of how she came to be on the streets so young.

Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which began on Monday and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney (right), of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this fifth chapter, Eve is chatted up by her new friend before settling down to sleep — wrapped up in a duvet on Patrick Street

Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which began on Monday and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney (right), of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this fourth chapter, a welcome feed for Eve as she chats to her new friend... then a bombshell discovery when she sees a poster on the wall

Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which began on Monday and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney (right), of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this third chapter, Eve investigates the twinkling lights at County Hall and her inquisitive nature lands her in a spot of bother

Welcome to the Evening Echo’s annual feature — Summer Soap. Now in its third year, Summer Soap is a daily fictional serial run over 12 parts, which begins today and runs for a fortnight. Called Bright Lights, this story was written by M.F Whitney (right), of Montenotte, from the MA in Creative Writing Programme at UCC. In this first chapter, we meet Eve, one of the main characters of the story, as she experiences the sights of Cork city at sundown

Writer Deirdre Collins, who penned our latest Summer Soap story which is serialised in the Evening Echo from Monday, tells CHRIS DUNNE about her muse and why she tackled the issue of homelessness