On Sunday 8 March, Dublin Book Festival heads down to the stunning Powerscourt Estate in Co. Wicklow for a day of events celebrating women's voices on International Women's Day.
Writers Rosanna Cooney, Clare McKenna, Oona Frawley, Julia Kelly and poet Dearbhla Mescal will lead a morning of engaging conversations around wellbeing, poetry, and the power of words to capture deeply moving stories.
The event is followed by an afternoon walk in the gardens with Dearbhla Mescal, who has just published her debut collection, Finding Joy. She talks to the Late Late Show below:
We asked Dearbhla for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
Every Christmas we have the 'row' over what film to watch and one of the films that I probably would never have seen except the kids said we MUST watch this was The Worst Person in the World - it stars Renate Reinsve and I really loved it. It is a must-watch. It’s funny, sad and captivating. It is about decisions, paths taken or not, and of course finding love in this world of ours.
MUSIC
What I listen to totally depends on my mood, so a bit of 80’s Whitney Houston or 90’s Ace of Base to have a twirl in my kitchen or James Taylor on repeat, singing badly but knowing every word. One of my joys is when the kids send me their current favourites. I found Adrianne Lenker and Sam Amidon through them.
BOOK
I'm an audio girl! I find it’s the best way to enjoy biographies, which I absolutely love. My most recent listens have been the The Michael Palin Diaries, Becoming by Michelle Obama (on repeat), and And Away... by Bob Mortimer.
I’ll read anything by Brené Brown — I have all her books. A special book that I hold close and dip into daily is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.
I also love poetry. James Crews and Donna Ashworth are favourites. I find I can surrender to a poem for a moment and simply catch my breath.
THEATRE
A play that stirred me deeply - and that I have never forgotten - was Asking For It by Louise O'Neill, adapted for the stage by Meadhbh McHugh. It played in Cork and Dublin and absolutely devastated me. It has stayed with me ever since.
TELEVISION
Oh, I’m a nonsense TV viewer! I love A New Life in the Sun - this is what they’re doing in retirement?! Give me anything about living off-grid… no water, no electricity, in the depths of nowhere!
And forensic crime-solving - following the clues to catch the bad guys… next episode, please!!
I rewatch a lot - total comfort viewing: The West Wing, Broadchurch, Last Tango in Halifax, Unforgotten. And there is nothing nicer than a Sunday afternoon binge of the Pride and Prejudice!
GIG
This one is close to home. My last gig was at Button Factory watching Nell Mescal and her band play. To watch our girl perform is a real joy.
I wasn’t a big gig-goer when I was young, so going to these venues now and watching up-and-coming Irish talent feels pretty fantastic. I’m thoroughly enjoying it in my 50s!
ART
I love being in galleries - I love the sense of peace they give me. National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin, National Portrait Gallery in London, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York are spaces I adore.
Instagram has also led me to artists I’m lucky enough to now call friends: Siobhan Mooney - her seascapes whisk me away; Steven Farrell - his work makes me smile; Lisa Woods - who brings magic to her colour; and Bridie Ryan - who brings fields to life.
RADIO
The radio is always on - the background soundtrack to our lives. I love a good interview, and when the world gets too crazy and "breaking news" becomes overwhelming, Lyric FM brings me a little calm.
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TECH
I love my birds and discovered a wonderful app, suggested to me in an airport terminal, called Merlin Bird ID. It allows you to record a bird you hear and identifies it for you. I use it everywhere I go. I love it.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
I honestly didn’t know how to answer this, so the best way is with honesty. I hope the next big thing is peace in our world. I hope that’s not too cringey — but it is my biggest wish for this planet we are inhabiting.
I want it for my children, your children, for all of us.
Finding Joy is published by Bonnier. Celebrating Women's Voices is at the Powerscourt Estate in Co. Wicklow on Sunday 8 March at 10:30am, followed by the afternoon walking tour with Dearbhla Mescal at 2pm - find out more here
