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MIC FemFest 2025 brings Booker-Prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo to Limerick

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This year’s MIC FemFest 2025 will see MIC Limerick host a special event with Bernardine Evaristo

Booker-Prize winning author Bernardine Evaristo to come to Mary Immaculate College as part of MIC FemFest 2025

Bernardine Evaristo is set to come to Mary Immaculate College as part of MIC FemFest 2025
Bernardine Evaristo is set to come to Mary Immaculate College as part of MIC FemFest 2025

MIC FemFest 2025 will take place in Mary Immaculate College’s Thurles campus, bringing a dynamic lineup to the campus focusing on empowerment, resistance, and creativity.

This year’s festival will see MIC Limerick host a special event celebrating women’s voices and achievements by hosting Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo.

On Monday, March 10, 2025, Evaristo will be interviewed by award-winning broadcaster and journalist Ciana Campbell. The event, scheduled for 6:30 PM in Room T118 of the Tara Building, offers attendees the opportunity to engage with the renowned British author, whose work spans fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and literary criticism.


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Evaristo, best known for her novel Girl, Woman, Other, made history as the first Black woman and Black British person to win the Booker Prize in 2019. Her literary contributions continue to shape contemporary discussions on identity, race, and gender. Additionally, her 2013 novel Mr Loverman has recently been adapted into an eight-part BBC drama, further solidifying her influence in modern literature.

The festival officially opens on Tuesday, March 5, on the MIC Thurles campus with a keynote address by Siobhán McQuillan of Amber Refuge.

Creativity and activism will continue with the launch of Star Weaving Workshops which will be facilitated by Dr Joan Finlay and lef by students and staff, these workshops will run each day until March 8.

Another highlight on opening day was Rest as Resistance: Reclaiming the Right to Rest, led by Dr. Rebecca Purcell which will look at the ‘Rest’ movement and how rest can serve as a form of resistance against oppressive systems.

On Wednesday, March 6, the Unheard Voices panel featuring Molly Daly, D. Hannagh McGinley, Dr Eimear Nic Conmhaic, Dr Catherine Stapleton, and Chaired by Dr Maria D Ryan, the discussion will focus on reclaiming space for marginalised voices in Irish society.

Following this, Tea & Conversation facilitated by Dr Marian Carcary will provide a space for networking and idea-sharing at the Staff Tearoom.

The festival is set to close with a keynote address by Dr Finn Ó Murchú at 2:30 PM, followed by a guided tour at 3 PM led by Ruth Talbot, which highlighted the contributions of women within MIC.

The addition of Bernardine Evaristo at MIC Limerick on Monday, March 10 will see the festival continue into a second week with the talk expected to inspire audiences.

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.