Two authors whose books explore how protecting our seas and oceans is so vital in the response to climate breakdown will speak at the Dublin Book Festival on Sunday November 8th.
Michael Cronin’s Ireland: Why It Matters to Be an Island (Royal Irish Academy) considers how Ireland is shaped – culturally, politically and ecologically – by the seas that surround it.
In Blue Heart: War, Climate and the Battle for the Ocean that Keeps Us Alive (Wordwell Books), Mark Mellett explores how the defining crises of the twenty-first century are all converging at sea.
The authors join marine journalist and author, Lorna Siggins, in conversation.
Island Perspectives – Trinity College Dublin professor Michael Cronin will join Mark Mellett and marine journalist Lorna Siggins for a discussion on the importance of Ireland's seas at the Dublin Book Festival.
Michael Cronin is 1776 Professor of French in Trinity College Dublin and Senior Researcher in the Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation.
Ocean Warning – Former Defence Forces Chief of Staff Mark Mellett explores how war, climate change and the defining crises of the 21st century are converging at sea in his book Blue Heart.
Among his recently published titles are Irish and Ecology: An Ghaeilge agus an Éiceolaíocht (FÁS, 2019) and Eco-Travel: Journeying in the Age of the Anthropocene (Cambridge University Press, 2022).
He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy, a member of the Academia Europaea, an "officier" in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin.
Island Identity – Michael Cronin's Ireland: Why It Matters to Be an Island examines how the seas surrounding Ireland have shaped the country's culture, politics and ecology.
Vice Admiral Mark Mellett was the first naval officer in the history of the State to serve as Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, having previously served as Chief of Navy, serving in this role until 2021.
He holds a PhD in Political Science from NUI Galway, is a graduate of the distinguished United States Naval War College (where he was top graduate from the 32 attending countries), the top graduate of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and was recently appointed Adjunct Professor of Law at UCC.
The Water That Surrounds Us (in conversation with Lorna Siggins) is on Sunday, November 8th, 2026, at 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin 2.
Hosted as part of Science Week supported by Research Ireland, the event is free, but participants are encouraged to book a supporters’ ticket at 5 euro.
Booking is available here
