The heritage
town of Lismore, Co. Waterford was the stunning location for Immrama - The Lismore Festival of Travel Writing. Lismore Castle, re-built in the gothic style during the mid-nineteenth century,
stands majestically on the banks of the river Blackwater. The castle is a stately home and along with St.
Carthage Cathedral evokes an atmosphere of an older time. Lismore is an ancient, sacred place with
almost 1400 years of recorded history.
Immrama is an old Irish word for journey and many people have journeyed
to Lismore since the festival’s inception.
Dervla Murphy, a native of Lismore, was
the world famous travel writer who inspired the first festival ten years ago.
I travelled to Lismore on Saturday to attend talks given by Paul Theroux and Simon Winchester. Paul Theroux one of America’s foremost travel writers, took to the stage in the Blackwater Community School on Saturday afternoon. He shared some of his amazing experiences with a capacity audience of over five hundred people. Paul told us his favourite travel writer is Dervla Murphy hence his wish to visit Lismore and attend Immrama. He flew to Belfast and wanted to travel to Lismore by train. Unfortunately the train service to Lismore ceased in 1960s so he travelled to Cork by train and hired a car. The first time he heard Dervla's name mentioned in travel circles was in the 1960s when she travelled across Ethiopia on a mule! Paul travelled to Africa for the first time in 1963. He arrived in Malawi as a teacher with the Peace Corps. He later moved to Uganda and then to Singapore. Paul has controversial opinions with regards to Africa. He believes Africa should be left to the African people and aid agencies should not interfere. He told how he had argued with Bill Clinton about the state of Uganda. His life has been threatened a couple of times when he travelled through extremely unstable countries. Paul spoke of his many adventures with humour, clarity and enthusiasm.
VIEW OF LISMORE CASTLE
I travelled to Lismore on Saturday to attend talks given by Paul Theroux and Simon Winchester. Paul Theroux one of America’s foremost travel writers, took to the stage in the Blackwater Community School on Saturday afternoon. He shared some of his amazing experiences with a capacity audience of over five hundred people. Paul told us his favourite travel writer is Dervla Murphy hence his wish to visit Lismore and attend Immrama. He flew to Belfast and wanted to travel to Lismore by train. Unfortunately the train service to Lismore ceased in 1960s so he travelled to Cork by train and hired a car. The first time he heard Dervla's name mentioned in travel circles was in the 1960s when she travelled across Ethiopia on a mule! Paul travelled to Africa for the first time in 1963. He arrived in Malawi as a teacher with the Peace Corps. He later moved to Uganda and then to Singapore. Paul has controversial opinions with regards to Africa. He believes Africa should be left to the African people and aid agencies should not interfere. He told how he had argued with Bill Clinton about the state of Uganda. His life has been threatened a couple of times when he travelled through extremely unstable countries. Paul spoke of his many adventures with humour, clarity and enthusiasm.
PAUL THEROUX
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SIMON WINCHESTER
Simon Winchester took to the stage on Saturday evening. Simon is a best-selling author, journalist and broadcaster. He started his career as a geologist in Uganda. When Simon was 21 he decided geology was not for him so he wrote to travel writer James Morris and asked for advice. He had been reading James Morris travel books during free time in Uganda. James Morris advised him to give up geology and get back to England and look for a job in a newspaper and start writing. He encountered a couple of set-backs but he persevered. Simon sent his work to James Morris in Wales for analysis and feedback. James was extremely kind and helped Simon with his work but they never met. When Simon eventually met James in the early 1970s he got a shock. James was undergoing a sex change and now James is Jan Morris the Welsh historian, author and travel writer! Through his career in ‘The Guardian’ Simon covered numerous significant events, including Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland and The Watergate Scandal in Washington.
Simon Winchester took to the stage on Saturday evening. Simon is a best-selling author, journalist and broadcaster. He started his career as a geologist in Uganda. When Simon was 21 he decided geology was not for him so he wrote to travel writer James Morris and asked for advice. He had been reading James Morris travel books during free time in Uganda. James Morris advised him to give up geology and get back to England and look for a job in a newspaper and start writing. He encountered a couple of set-backs but he persevered. Simon sent his work to James Morris in Wales for analysis and feedback. James was extremely kind and helped Simon with his work but they never met. When Simon eventually met James in the early 1970s he got a shock. James was undergoing a sex change and now James is Jan Morris the Welsh historian, author and travel writer! Through his career in ‘The Guardian’ Simon covered numerous significant events, including Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland and The Watergate Scandal in Washington.
ST CARTHAGE'S CATHEDRAL , LISMORE
Saturday
morning I attended a presentation given by Dr. Rachel Finnegan in the
atmospheric St. Carthage Cathedral. Her
subject was Richard Pococke, Anglican Bishop of Ossory 1756-65. He is best known for his travel writing and
diaries. He seems to have spent more
time travelling than attending to his duties as a churchman and from 1733-41
undertook two grand tours with his cousin.
TUESDAY KNITTERS 'YARNBOMB' CREATION ON DISPLAY IN LISMORE!
GOTHIC SPLENDOUR OF LISMORE CASTLE
Sunday
morning an early Literary Breakfast with Charlie Connolly in the Ballyrafter
House Hotel was well attended. Full Irish breakfasts for everybody! A full
interactive programme of family fun and music was held on Sunday afternoon in
the Millennium Park.
Immrama is a
niche festival and Lismore is a unique location.
The two combined made my visit a very pleasant experience.
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