John Vaillant is a best-selling author and freelance writer whose work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, National Geographic, and the Guardian, among others. His most recent book, Fire Weather, won the Baillie Gifford Prize and Canada’s Shaughnessy Cohen Prize, and was a finalist the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. A #1 bestseller in Canada, Fire … Read More

Martin Warde is a member of the Irish Traveller community and has a degree in Sociology and Politics from NUIG and an MA in journalism at UL. Martin is also a stand-up comedian/writer, theatre-maker, and podcaster with a passion for telling stories from the margins. Martin has spoken on multiple platforms about the lack of representation of his community within … Read More

Seán Ronayne inherited his life-long love of birds from his father and grandfather. One of his first memories involves being taken to a nature reserve in his home town of Cobh, Ireland, where he would try to guess his father’s imitations of the sounds made by different birds and animals. Later, Seán obtained a degree in zoology and a masters … Read More

Len Pennie is a poet who writes predominantly in the Scots language. She writes passionately about the promotion of minoritised languages, survivors of domestic abuse and the destigmatisation of mental illness. Her debut collection, poyums, is published by Canongate and was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Instagram & TikTok @misspunnypennie | Twitter @Lenniesaurus

Naoise Nunn is a creator, producer and programmer of festivals and events including MindField at Electric Picnic, Kilkenomics, Kilkenny Animated and Ireland House at SXSW. Schweppe Curtis Nunn, the company of which is is co-director also produced the Brightening Air season for the Arts Council; and has run the Bram Stoker Festival for Dublin City Council since 2017. He is … Read More

For fifty years, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player Jim Moginie was a driving force behind the startling rise and global success of one of Australia s most powerful, influential and iconic rock bands. Through the ups and downs of writing and releasing generation-defining songs, touring relentlessly and enduring the intense scrutiny drawn by the band’s uncompromising lyrics and environmental activism, … Read More

Sally Phillips is a multi-award-winning British actress, comedian, and producer. She is known for her work in the comedy television series I’m Alan Partridge, Jam and Jerusalem, Miranda, Taskmaster and Veep.

Dublin-born Orla Guerin is a distinguished journalist with a career spanning several decades. She has become one of the most prominent international correspondents, known for her fearless reporting from some of the world’s most challenging and conflict-ridden regions. With a passion for uncovering untold stories and a commitment to truth and accuracy, Guerin has consistently provided viewers with a deeper … Read More

Ciarán Hinds is a veteran character actor from Ireland. Over the course of his four-decade-long career, he has accumulated over a hundred film and TV credits. A Belfast native, Hinds grew up in a Catholic household and developed an early interest in dancing. He initially pursued a career in law before shifting his attention to acting. His television roles include … Read More

Catherine is co-founder of Pocket Forests and has almost three decades experience as a journalist and author. She is ambitious about developing strategic partnerships in environmental action with real impacts which create a just transition to a more sustainable world. She has created several podcasts and written four books. Catherine writes a weekly column for The Irish Times.