Ellen Hutchins: A Conversation

A coming together for conversation with the Festival team and Festival visitors. Open to all. Free.

For all those drawn to Ellen’s story – whether you have only just heard of her or been interested in Ellen’s story for years – a chance for a lively discussion about her botanising, her life and her legacy.

Topics for conversation will include:

Research being undertaken on how many seaweeds, lichens and bryophytes she collected and how many she found ‘new to science’ and ‘new to Ireland’.

What new ‘finds’ from the archives tell us about Ellen’s story.

What draws you to Ellen’s story? What questions do you have? What more would you like to learn?

We will also spend a moment on:

“Learning to love lichens” – a celebration of lichens and Irish lichenologist, the late Paul Whelan.

With Festival Co-Directors: Clare Heardman and Madeline Hutchins, Festival team members and Festival visitors. Team members includes Canadian poet, Clare Goulet, whose new book, Closer?, has an Ellen Hutchins sequence titled Ballylickey Fugue.

Hosted by Finola Finlay of the Roaringwater Journal and with a handful of Ellen’s letters read by Karen Minihan, theatre director, writer and actor – both long-term collaborators on Ellen’s events.

Followed by a chance to see Ellen archives – those in the cabinet and more – and for informal conversations.

5:30pm to 7pm

Free and no need to book.

For information on all Ellen Hutchins Festival events in Heritage Week see: https://ellenhutchins.com/event-listings-2/