02/06/2014. FREE TO USE IMAGE. Immrama 2014. Pictured at Lismore Castle Gardens is book enthusiast Amelia Jane Feeney age 7 launching the programme for the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing which will take place in Lismore, Co. Waterford from June 12 to 15 - further information can be found on www.lismoreimmrama.com. Picture: Patrick Browne


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Literary Audiences to Descend on Lismore for Travel Writing Festival – Immrama
Free Family Fun Programme Announced

Literary audiences have packed their bags for Lismore in County Waterford as global travel writers top the bill for the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing from June 12 to 15. A fun filled family programme was unveiled today (Monday, June 2) at Lismore Castle for this the twelfth year of the festival.

Award winning author and journalist Tim Butcher and broadcaster Charlie Bird are among those due to tell their tales of travel at the festival weekend. Tim worked at the Daily Telegraph from 1990 to 2009 serving as chief war correspondent, covering all major conflicts across the Balkans, Middle East and Africa. His first book, Blood River, an account of his 2004 journey through DR Congo overland from Lake Tanganyika and down the Congo River, reached Number 1 in the Sunday Times bestseller list and his latest book ‘The Trigger’ is receiving rave reviews internationally.

Charlie Bird who has had a long and distinguished career in Irish Journalism will take to the stage at the festival at 3pm on Saturday, June 14. Charlie will discuss his travelling adventures of late which have been documented in a series of highly successful programmes including Charlie Bird Travel’s to the Arctic and the North Pole, Charlie Bird Travel’s the Amazon River, and the Ganges River in India. He also documents tracing the journey of the famous Irish Antarctic explorer Tom Crean and travels to the South Pole.

Opening the festival on Thursday, June 12 for a book launch are authors Diana Gleadhill, Alan Murphy, Michael McMonagle and Paul Clements.

On Friday, June 13 a panel discussion will be lead by Paul Clements focusing on the Richard Hayward, a popular travel writer, singer and actor from the middle years of the twentieth century. Hayward wrote twelve travel books about Ireland, including Munster and the City of Cork, In Praise of Ulster and Where the River Shannon Flows. On the 50th anniversary of his death his legacy is being retrieved. The talk will be followed by a panel discussion looking at the reasons why some of Ireland’s best-known writers have been forgotten. Those taking part in the discussion are Alannah Hopkin, Manchan Magan, Michael Fewer and Paul Clements, author of the Richard Hayward biography.

On the morning of June 14 writer and documentary-maker Manchán Magan will host a writing workshop and historian Donald Brady will host a talk, international expedition leader and mountaineer Michael Whelan will host a lunchtime reading. Getting the show on the road on Sunday morning June 15, the festival-Man Mark Graham who will host a literary breakfast.

Jan Rotte, Coordinator of the Immrama Festival, says the festival programme is of true travel caliber, “Travel and travel writing is certainly popular in Ireland right now, we have visitors booked from right across the country. We are delighted that these top international travel writers will join us in Lismore this year; it will be a fantastic weekend in Lismore with lots on offer not just for keen travel writers and enthusiasts but activities for all the family to enjoy.”

Families are in for a treat on Sunday afternoon with a ‘Free Family Fun Sunday’ programme on offer. A host of entertainment will be on offer with live music in the town parkfrom Smokin Doves and Avi McGourty and face painting, dance and storytelling all in the Millennium Park in the picturesque heritage town of Lismore bringing the festival to a close on Sunday evening, June 15 author Mícheál de Barra will discuss his first book ‘An Bóthar go Santiago’ his diary of the 900km walk.

Full details of festival see www.lismoreimmrama.com or call (058) 53803.

Ends – June 2, 2014.

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Photograph Caption (Also in file information)
Pictured at Lismore Castle Gardens is book enthusiast Amelia Jane Feeney age 7 launching the programme for the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing which will take place in Lismore, Co. Waterford from June 12 to 15 - further information can be found on www.lismoreimmrama.com – photograph Patrick Browne

Media contact: Ann Power, (086) 3065588 ann@powerhousepr.ie