Event overview
Authors Grainne Lyons and Karen McLeod read from and discuss their work
At a crossroads in her life, Gráinne Lyons set out to travel Ireland’s west coast on foot. She set a simple intention: to walk in the footsteps of eleven pioneering Irish women deeply rooted in this coastal landscape and explore their lives and work along the way. As a Londoner born to Irish parents, she also sought answers in her own identity.
Gráinne Lyons is a writer and documentary-maker from London, where she lives. She holds an MA in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmith’s University and a BA in English Literature from the University of York. Her work has been published in The Irish Times and Aesthetica magazine and she was shortlisted for the Mslexia first novel competition in 2017. As a documentary producer, she has produced numerous arts and history films. Gráinne’s family live in her father’s home place of County Sligo, where she lives when she’s not in London.
Told with the wit and verve that characterised her debut novel, Karen McLeod’s memoir of flying as cabin crew, Lifting Off, offers a fascinating insight into the profound impact of long-haul life. Having come out as a lesbian she is forced to go back in after a colleague advises her that it’s not ok to be gay, unlike male cabin crew. Brimming with vertiginous loops and extreme globe-trotting, against a backdrop of exotic locations, hotel bars and nightclubs, Karen slowly unravels as the inability to truly be herself reverberates. This is the story of how Karen finally came into land. How she learned to look after herself and discovered her real self.
Karen McLeod is a writer, performer and creative writing tutor and writer-in-residence at Bookseller Crow. Her debut novel, In Search of the Missing Eyelash, was published by Jonathan Cape and won the Betty Trask Award and was translated widely. In June 2024 it has been celebrated by being republished by Muswell Press.
This is a free, in person event and there is no need to register in advance.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec 2024 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm |
Accessibility
If you are attending an event and need the College to help with any mobility requirements you may have, please contact the event organiser in advance to ensure we can accommodate your needs.
