Lismore the merrier

A popular literary festival is returning to county Waterford this summer with some huge names set to appear. The Immrama Lismore Festival of Travel Writing will run from 12-15 June at the Lismore Heritage Centre.

Since its inception in 2003, Immrama has been dedicated to the art of travel writing, good music, and fine entertainment, and this year’s outing is no exception.

Radio and television presenter Éanna Ní Lamhna is a featured guest speaker this year. She will give a talk exploring the richness of biodiversity in Ireland and the world, drawing on her travels through the rainforest of Costa Rica, and the giant redwoods of California, New Zealand, and Tanzania.

Also featuring are Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick who are both history professors and authors. Their 2023 book, ‘Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Emigrant Women’ is considered a masterpiece of social history and true crime. Their presentation will narrate some of the journeys of the Irish women who emigrated to North America in the 19th century.

Journalist Julian Evans will talk about his new book, ‘Undefeatable: Odessa in Love and War’, which offers compelling fresh insights into the history of Russia’s war against Ukraine. He fell in love, married in Odessa, and lived there for 25 years. Julian has spent much of the last three years shuttling between the UK and Ukraine, writing, reporting, and volunteering. He recently returned from delivering a donated 4WD vehicle to an army unit near Kharkiv. “Until the war is over,” he says, “it’s impossible to concentrate on anything else.”

TG4’sHector Ó hEochagáin will also feature at the festival.