Bringing Back Our Forests Catherine Cleary, Paul McMahon and Éanna Ní Lamhna in conversation with Richard Nairn

In Partnership with Science Foundation Ireland

The crucial role our trees play in maintaining the health of our planet is well known, and the decimation of our natural forests has become one of the most controversial issues of our time. In response, there is a growing movement vocalising the need not only to protect our remaining forests, but also to replenish the earth’s supply. Join our panel of experts, Catherine Cleary of Pocket Forests, author of Island of Woods (New Island) Paul McMahon and author of Wild Musings (Veritas) Éanna Ní Lamhna, in discussion with Richard Nairn author of Wild Woods, Wild Shores and the recently released Wild Waters (Gill Books).

This event is supported by Science Foundation Ireland as part of Science Week 2023.

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Catherine Cleary is an award-winning journalist, author and climate activist. In 2020 with co-founder Ashe Conrad-Jones they set up Pocket Forests, a Dublin social enterprise connecting communities and making space for nature in urban areas. She writes the weekly Game Changers column for The Irish Times highlighting climate and biodiversity actions. She is the author and co-author of four books, has written and hosted several radio and podcast series and is the mother of three sons.  This year she planted more than 6,000 trees with family and friends in a native woodlands project of over 24,000 native trees. 

Paul Mcmahon was born in Ireland and studied at University College Dublin, completing his PhD in history at the University of Cambridge. He has pursued a varied career in academia, finance and environmental policy and has published two books, Feeding Frenzy: The New Politics of Food (2013) and an Irish Times book of the year, British Spies and Irish Rebels: British Intelligence and Ireland (2008). He is the co-founder of SLM Partners, an investment business that invests in sustainable agriculture and forestry across the world.

Éanna Ní Lamhna is a biologist, environmental consultant, radio and television presenter, author, educator and Irish Times contributor. Her previous books include Wild and Wonderful (O’Brien Press, 2004), Straight Talking Wild (Town House, 2006), Wild Dublin (O’Brien Press, 2008) and Our Wild World (O’Brien Press, 2021).

Richard Nairn is an ecologist and writer. He has published seven books, the latest of which is a trilogy with the titles, ‘Wild Woods’, ’Wild Shores’ and ‘Wild Waters’. He holds a Masters degree in Zoology and was a former director of BirdWatch Ireland. He also owns a small woodland in County Wicklow.