Wild Connections Celebrates Nature, Creativity and Belonging at TU Dublin
Wild Connections: Nature, Wellbeing and Belonging took place on Wednesday, 04 November 2026, at TU Dublin's Grangegorman campus, attracting more than 350 attendees in a vibrant celebration of nature, creativity and community.
The event was one of 120 events across five days in Dublin that celebrated the 20th anniversary edition of the Dublin Book Festival, one of Ireland's most successful and dynamic literary festivals.
Dublin Book Festival partnered with TU Dublin and Green Foundation Ireland for the second consecutive year, building on the success of the 2025 event, Sustainability Here and Now. This year's programme Wild Connections presented a full day of inspiring conversations, readings, workshops and reflection, exploring our relationship with nature, wellbeing and one another. Also introduced was a new format featuring interactive workshops, guided walks, poetry, live music and nature photography. Featuring Lisa Clancy, Jane Clarke, John S. Doyle, Dearbhla Mescal, Miriam Mulcahy, Bex Sheridan and Eoin Warner, the programme brought together diverse voices and perspectives through talks, discussions and creative experiences.
Dublin Book Festival Director, Julianne Mooney Siron, said:
We were delighted to partner with TU Dublin and Green Foundation Ireland for another year, following on from the success of last year's day of events. Sustainability is such a pressing issue, one affecting us all, so programming this day of events exploring our connection with, and place in, nature is a wonderful way to create space for lively and engaging dialogue and reflection. Books are an invaluable way of deepening our understanding of the world around us, and bringing authors together with their audiences expands on this. We had a wonderful day on TU Dublin's Grangegorman campus this week and are grateful for the support, and to all those who came out to join us for the day.
Wild Connections was led by the Sustainability Education Team, and coordinated by Dr Olivia Freeman and Dr Brian Gormley, with support from TU Dublin Student Volunteering, Library Services and Societal Engagement.
Head of Sustainability Education, Dr Brian Gormley, said:
Wild Connections demonstrated the power of partnership in creating meaningful learning experiences that connect people with nature, wellbeing and sustainability. We are extremely grateful to Dublin Book Festival, Green Foundation Ireland, our speakers, facilitators, volunteers and all those who contributed to the success of the event. The enthusiasm and engagement of attendees throughout the day highlighted the growing appetite for conversations that explore our relationship with the natural world and the role it plays in supporting healthy, resilient communities.
Green Foundation Ireland Chairperson, Pat Brereton, said:
Green Foundation Ireland focuses on building awareness and action on sustainability through education. This link with TU Dublin and the Dublin Book Festival reaches all age groups. We have all the solutions to our climate and biodiversity crises, communication on the issues is key to show people that taking action will lead to a better more inclusive future.
Inspiring Young Nature Enthusiasts
The day welcomed 50 children from St Gabriel's National School and St Paul's (Brunner) Primary School, who took part in a lively creative workshop with illustrator, author, and TU Dublin Doctoral student, Bex Sheridan. Surrounded by the historic setting of Lower House, the children learned how to create their own imaginative creatures through step-by-step drawing activities that encouraged creativity and observation of the natural world.
Poetry, Music and Reflection
Acclaimed poet Jane Clarke led participants on a guided walk through the Grangegorman campus inspired by her latest collection, Coracle (Bloodaxe Books). Exploring themes of care, connection and our relationship with the natural world, the walk combined poetry readings with live music from fiddle player Adam Agee, creating a memorable and reflective experience.
Renewed in Nature
One of the highlights of the programme was Renewed in Nature, a powerful conversation between authors John S. Doyle and Eoin Warner, chaired by environmentalist, broadcaster and former Dublin Institute of Technology lecturer, Duncan Stewart.
Drawing on their respective memoirs, both authors reflected on the profound impact that nature can have on personal resilience, healing and belonging.
John S. Doyle discussed Salt Wind, Rising Water: Planting a Wood on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Coast (Merrion Press), which chronicles his family's efforts to transform two windswept acres on the Sligo coast into a thriving woodland, orchard and garden. Eoin Warner explored themes from Through the Long Grass: Love, Loss and Belonging in Nature (Gill Books), a moving memoir that examines loss, recovery and the powerful role nature can play in helping us reconnect with ourselves and the world around us.
Discovering the Hidden World of Insects
In TU Dublin's East Quad, insect photographer and nature enthusiast Lisa Clancy captivated students and visitors with an engaging hands-on workshop based on her book Insect Portraits: Capturing the Personality of (Mostly) Irish Insects (Mayo Books).
Combining stunning photography with fascinating scientific insight, Lisa revealed the extraordinary diversity and character of Ireland's insect life. Participants learned about the techniques used to capture her remarkable close-up portraits and gained a deeper appreciation of the important role insects play in our ecosystems.
The Healing Power of Nature
The day concluded with The Healing Power of Nature, a thoughtful conversation featuring authors Dearbhla Mescal and Miriam Mulcahy, facilitated by mindfulness expert, and School of Global Business lecturer, Maria Kenneally. The discussion explored how engagement with nature can support wellbeing, resilience and self-care in an increasingly fast-paced world.
Dearbhla Mescal reflected on themes from Finding Joy (Ériu), a collection of poems, reflections and prompts that encourages readers to slow down and discover moments of calm and gratitude in everyday life. Miriam Mulcahy shared insights from Walking to the Foot of the Sky (Ériu), which recounts her journey along the Beara Breifne Way and the transformative power of walking through Ireland's landscapes.
Guided by Maria Kenneally, the conversation created a calming and restorative atmosphere that deeply resonated with attendees, setting the intention that participants would leave feeling uplifted, inspired and more connected to themselves, each other and the natural world.
Sustainability Education Lead, Dr Olivia Freeman, said:
What I enjoyed most about Wild Connections was seeing people experience nature, literature, creativity and wellbeing in so many different ways throughout the day. We wanted to create something that felt immersive, welcoming and a little different from a traditional seminar, and it was wonderful to see attendees engaging so enthusiastically with everything from drawing workshops and nature walks to poetry, photography and discussion. Bringing these diverse experiences together created opportunities for connection, reflection and discovery, which is exactly what Wild Connections set out to achieve.
Nature, Creativity and Belonging
Wild Connections successfully brought together students, staff, school children and members of the wider community for a day of learning, creativity and reflection. Through literature, music, art and conversation, participants were invited to deepen their connection with nature and consider the vital role it plays in supporting both personal wellbeing and a more sustainable future.
Photos: Sarah Pinelli, Rebecca Flanagan, Lola Rodríguez.