Dara McAnulty

Great news.

It’s not merely hyperbole to say that one of the publishing sensations of the last year was an extraordinary young man from County Down. Amongst many plaudits, Dara McAnulty’s book Diary of a Young Naturalist won the prestigious Wainright Prize for UK Nature Writing, the youngest writer ever to do so. The book movingly chronicles his fourteenth year as an autistic boy finding solace and inspiration in the natural world.

We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be welcoming Dara to the festival in September to do a reading and conversation with the journalist and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald.

Here’s a telling quote from Diary of a Young Naturalist:

‘We all have a place in this world, our small corner. And we must notice it, tend to it with grace and compassion. Maybe this could be mine, this little corner of County Down, where I can think thoughts, watch birds, and swing gently on a hammock. But is this enough? Is noticing an act of resistance, a rebellion? I don’t know but smile anyway because with each passing day I am feeling lighter.’

Dara previously did a wonderful reading from his book in a Christmas Special of the Shaking Bog Podcast. Click to listen.

More details of our exciting festivals line-up to come shortly..