Sustainability Here and Now Catherine Cleary, Fintan Drury, Linda Fährlin, John Gibbons, Molly McNiffe, Eman Mohammed, Anja Murray, Éanna Ní Lamhna, Randal Plunkett and Lucy Taylor
In Partnership with Green Foundation Ireland / TU Dublin
As sustainability remains one of the most pressing issues of our time, staff, students and the public are invited to join us for a day of stimulating, thought-provoking and inspiring events at TU Dublin’s Grangegorman campus. The day features a range of events with authors whose writing explores sustainable development themes with depth, clarity and actionable insight.
Rewilding Our Future
Randal Plunkett and Catherine Cleary
in conversation with Dr Ken Boyle
11am – 12pm
As our natural world continues to come under increasing pressure, join us for an inspiring morning of discussion around the ways we can contribute to pushing back, and ultimately giving back to nature. Wild Thing (Eriu) is a fascinating memoir-with-a-mission of how Randal Plunkett inherited a 1600-acre estate alongside Dunsany Castle, and how he made the decision to let nature run wild in a drive towards a more sustainable future. Catherine Cleary is co-author of The Hare’s Corner (New Island) and founder of Pocket Forests, an initiative that aims to grow pockets of native trees and shrubs in urban spaces, giving communities a sense of ownership and empowerment in tackling the environmental crisis. Join Randal and Catherine in conversation with Dr. Ken Boyle.
The Lie of the Land
John Gibbons
in conversation with Professor Pat Brereton
12.30pm – 1.45pm
The Lie of the Land (Sandycove) by author and environmental journalist John Gibbons is a call to action for Ireland around addressing climate change, and how reimaging the way we use our land is a key step we can take. Gibbons, who grew up on an arable farm, shows how we can embrace a low-emissions farming model while preserving farmers’ livelihoods, making the countryside a better place to live, and delivering something Ireland conspicuously lacks: food security. Join the author in conversation with Professor Pat Brereton as they explore where we have fallen down, and how we can now step up as we prepare for the new realities of the climate crisis.
Eyes Open to Ireland’s Natural World
Anja Murray and Éanna Ní Lamhna
in conversation with John Gormley
2pm – 3pm
Join for a fascinating afternoon of discussion around Ireland’s thriving natural world, in both the city and beyond. In Frog Routes, Polka-Dot Newts and Other Treasures of Irish Nature (Gill Books) ecologist and environmental broadcaster Anja Murray leads us through Ireland’s hedgerows, understoreys, shorelines and sodden hollows, revealing the hidden marvels and complex communities of beings that often go unheard and unseen by us humans. In Wild Dublin: Exploring Nature in the City (The O’Brien Press), wildlife expert Éanna Ní Lamhna looks to the skies, parks, gardens, wetlands, rivers, canals and coastline to showcase Dublin’s biodiversity in all its glory, inviting us to see our busy capital city in a whole new light. The authors will be in conversation with John Gormley.
Catastrophe
Fintan Drury, Molly McNiffe and Eman Mohammed in conversation with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll
5pm – 6pm
In Catastrophe: Nakba II (Merrion Press) journalist, author and migration activist Fintan Drury provides an insightful and moving analysis of the decades-long oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel. Deeply researched and unflinching, this provocative, eye-opening and unapologetically direct book is a call to understand the unique suffering of the Palestinians, and how history is repeating itself before our eyes. Join us for this powerful panel discussion where the author, along with Palestinian visual journalist and writer, Eman Mohammed, and TU student activist and journalist, Molly McNiffe, will be in conversation with Dr Ciaran O’Carroll.
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The day will also feature an engaging schools’ event.
Discovering Ireland’s Seashores
Lucy Taylor and Linda Fährlin
10am – 11am
Age: 1st & 2nd class
Join author Lucy Taylor and illustrator Linda Fährlin to dive into the wonderful world of Ireland’s seashores, at this morning event with readings, illustration and discussion! The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Irish Seashore (Gill Books) takes young readers on a fascinating journey along Ireland’s seashores, with wonderful plants and animals to discover on every page. In these beautifully illustrated pages, readers will be able to learn about everything from biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems, to the science behind waves and tides.
In partnership with TU Dublin and Green Foundation Ireland.
TU Dublin is deeply committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) strategy. In 2025, TU Dublin was ranked Ireland’s top university for SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The university is embedding sustainability across all academic programmes (SDG 4– Quality Education), while student-led initiatives like the ReFridge Food Pantry contribute to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). TU Dublin also raises awareness through public engagement, including a new partnership with Green Foundation Ireland and Dublin Book Festival to host these five events which align with a number of the UN SDGs.
Catherine Cleary is the co-founder of Pocket Forests, and is a freelance journalist. She lives in Co. Roscommon.
Fintan Drury was a journalist with RTÉ in the 1980s. Before co-anchoring Morning Ireland for its first three years, he was a correspondent in Northern Ireland and reported from Britain, Europe, Africa and the USA. In 1985 he volunteered in the then largest refugee camp in the world, in Darfur, with GOAL. A longtime activist on migration, he’s written extensively on the subject. In 2016 he volunteered in a refugee camp in Athens, which led to a fifteen-part series in The Irish Times on the diary of a Syrian refugee. Fintan now lives and works in Dublin; he is chair of SARI (Sport Against Racism Ireland).
Linda Fährlin is an artist and illustrator inspired by the wild Atlantic Ocean and the landscape of the north-west of Ireland, where she lives. Previous books she has illustrated include The Great Irish Science Book and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Irish Lighthouses.
John Gibbons is an environmental journalist and commentator who has been speaking about climate change in Ireland for over a decade. The Lie of the Land is his first book.
Molly McNiffe is a student journalist in her final year in TU Dublin. She has previously reported for The Mirror, The Sun, The Star and The Liberty. Her recent article is ‘Paddystinians – The Surge in Irish Support for Palestine.’ She has an interest in equality and inclusivity for all.
Eman Mohammed is a Palestinian photojournalist from Gaza and a Senior TED Fellow. She began her career at 19, documenting life under Israeli occupation and the ongoing siege in Gaza, focusing on stories of resilience and resistance. Her work blends sharp documentation with emotional intimacy, challenging stereotypes about Palestine and other oppressed communities. During the ongoing genocide, she co-authored an investigation revealing Gaza as home to the world’s largest cohort of child amputees, later cited by the UN as evidence of war crimes. Her work has appeared internationally in leading outlets and museum collections.
Anja Murray is an ecologist, environmental broadcaster and writer who has devoted her career to the protection and restoration of nature. She is known for her clear, research-based approach to explaining complex ecological challenges, including as an expert presenter on ‘Eco Eye’ on RTÉ 1, in the many radio documentaries she makes, and in her weekly ‘Nature File’ on Lyric FM, which inspired this book. Her critically acclaimed first book Wild Embrace: Connecting to the world of Ireland’s Natural World was a bestseller.
Éanna Ní Lamhna is a biologist, environmental and wildlife consultant, radio and television presenter, author and educator. Éanna has one of the most recognisable voices on Irish radio and has been an expert on RTÉ’s wildlife programme Mooney Goes Wild since it began in 1995. She has an honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Galway and has served as president of both the national environmental charity An Taisce and the Tree Council of Ireland. Originally from Louth, she lives in Dublin. Éanna is the author of many wildlife books, including Our Wild World, Wild and Wonderful, Wonders of the Wild and a brand new edition of Wild Dublin: Exploring Nature in the City.
Randal Plunkett is the 21st Baron of Dunsany Castle in Co. Meath. Born in New York, and brought up in New York, London and Switzerland, as well as in his native Ireland, he returned to Dunsany Castle aged 23. Upon inheriting the title Baron Dunsany, together with the castle and estate, he has spent the last decade working to re-wild a large portion of the 1,600-acre estate, while dedicating the remainder to sustainable plant-based agriculture.
Lucy Taylor lives beside the sea in County Kerry and is passionate about sharing her love for nature. She is a qualified marine biologist and has worked in education, research, SCUBA diving and nature conservation. She is the author of Ireland’s Seashore: A Field Guide.