On Sunday June 12 At 1pm a 'Paddle-Talk' with Jasper Winn, will take place on the River Blackwater, departing from Lismore at Lady Louisa's Walk and finishing at Tourin Quay and Gardens with warming tea and scones and an illustrated talk on his travels. For landlubbers who don't fancy a paddle in a canoe, Jasper Winn's talk will commence at 4.30pm in the Tea House, Tourin House and the gardens will be open for viewing from 3.00pm.
Jasper Winn grew up in West Cork, where he left school at age ten and educated himself by reading, riding horses, learning rural skills and playing music. It was an upbringing that has shaped a lifetime of travel and writing. He has journeyed across the Atlas with nomadic Berbers, canoed along the Danube, and often crosses countries on horseback. He was story consultant on the IMAX film, Ride Around the World, about the world's horse cultures. Paddle is his first book.
Last summer, writer and musician, Jasper Winn set himself an extraordinary task. He would kayak the whole way round Ireland - a thousand miles - camping on remote headlands and islands, carousing in bars and paddling clockwise until he got back where he started. But in the worst Irish summer in living memory the pleasures of idling among seals, fulmars and fishing boats soon gave way to heroic struggles through storm-tossed seas ... and lock-ins playing music in coastal pubs.
Circling the country where he grew up, Jasper reflects on life at the very fringes of Ireland, the nature and lore of its seas, and his own eccentric upbringing - sprung from school at age ten and left free to explore the countryside and its traditional life. Charming, quietly epic, and with an irresistible undertow of wit, Paddle is a low-tech adventure that captures the sheer joy of a misty morning on Ireland's coast.
Jasper joins a host of international travel writers at festival in the heritage town of Lismore including national and international writers featured are our own Conor O'Clery and Theo Dorgan, as well as Rolf Potts from the USA and Sara Wheeler, Alex von Tunzelmann, Anthony Sattin and William Blacker from the United Kingdom.
In a unique approach to creative writing, the festival offers two different opportunities for budding writers to explore their creativity. Writers with a desire to explore the potential for internet publication while refining their travel writing skills can avail of the Blogger's forum event with Rolf Potts and Manchán Magan with special guests Rolf Potts, Áine Goggins of the TG4 Couchsurfing programme "Ó Tholg go Tolg", and Darragh Doyle of the blog boards.ie on Saturday June 11 at 10am, tickets for thie three hour clinic are €25; book your place on 058 53803 . In 'Spirit of Place' join Grace Wells in a guided stroll to experience the beauty and history of Lismore followed by a writing workshop. Course facilitator Grace Wells has being mentoring writers for a number of years and is currently undertaking a writer's mentoring programme for Waterford County Council and Artlinks.
A wealth of local writing talent will be celebrated at the festival opening on Thursday, June 9, with author readings and the launch of new publications by writers Paul Clements, Áine Uí Fhoghlú, Alan Murphy and David Monagan at Lismore Castle.
For young festival goers a Free Family Fun Day in the Millennium Park will involve a host of entertainment from 2 to 5pm on Sunday, June 12, courtesy of Wobbly Circus and with live music by Loudest Whisper. Events include stilt-walking, face painting, music, dance and storytelling.
Saturday, June 11 sees The Molly Keane Writers Award take place at 2pm in Lismore Branch Library and on Sunday, June 12, at noon former County Librarian and Historian Donald Brady will host a free presentation at The Courthouse Theatre. Eamon Maxwell, of Lismore Castle Arts will give a talk at 2pm on Sunday June 12 on the Artist as Traveller. Music lovers are in for a treat, when the Kidderminster Choir, conducted by Liam Brady, will perform at Lismore Cathedral at 8 pm on Saturday 11 June, in conjunction with the Dungarvan Brass Band.
The Immrama Festival of Travel Writing will be held in Lismore from June 9 to 12, 2011 and is generously supported by Fáilte Ireland, Waterford County Council, Eason Dungarvan, Waterford Airport and the Arts Council. Tickets and further information can be found on www.lismoreimmrama.com or by contacting 058-53803.
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