The Culture File Debate: Do Bugs Need a Glow-Up?

In partnership with RTÉ Lyric fm’s Culture File.

A ladybug lands on your hand – it’s a picture-perfect moment. But what if it’s an earwig? Or a woodlouse? Do they deserve the resultant squeal of disgust? Can critters ever become as charming and glamorous as bumblebees and butterflies? Is it time to befriend those multi-limbed beings that outnumber us 200 million to one? Join Luke Clancy and panel, including Rachel McKenna, Nessa Darcy, Cassia Gaden Gilmartin and Liam Lysaght, on the why and how of a bug rebrand.

Please note we may be capturing candid imagery at this event for use on our social media and website.

Nessa Darcy is a Dublin-based Creative Entomologist. Her mission is to reintroduce humans to their natural habitat through colourful encounters with insects. She facilitates bug-centric learning experiences, invertebrate surveys for conservation management, socially and environmentally engaged art projects, teacher training, and mindful nature connection. Her proudest achievements include overcoming her fear of centipedes, interviewing a woodlouse, and hearing children at her workshops shout, "I love insects! This is the best day of my life!"

Cassia Gaden Gilmartin is founder and Managing Editor of Channel, a literary journal dedicated to publishing writing in English and Irish that fosters connection between people and planet and to building a community of writers, artists and readers grounded in shared ecological concern. She also works as Production Manager at New Island Books and as a volunteer Director of Publishing Ireland, with a focus in both roles on the promotion of sustainable publishing practices.

Dr Liam Lysaght is Chief Executive Officer of the National Biodiversity Data Centre and Chair of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. In addition to leading a team of 24 staff, he has responsibility for managing three national butterfly monitoring schemes; the Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, the Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme and the Marsh Fritillary Monitoring Scheme.

Rachel McKenna is a dedicated naturalist and citizen scientist who has been involved in documenting species with the National Biodiversity Data Centre and several special interest groups, such as 'Insects and Invertebrates of Ireland', 'Moths Ireland', and 'British and Irish Sawflies'. She is also the Senior Executive Architect in Offaly County Council and author of publications including the captivating seasonal Irish Nature Diary ‘Step into Nature’.

Luke Clancy runs the independent audio production company, Soundsdoable. Work includes: Soundstories, Words on A Wire, Worksongs, The Five Stages, By The Book, The Wine Geese, Hidden Trees, Designing Ireland, Belfast Songlines, Paradise Blues, Skelligs Calling (with Kevin Brew and Chris Watson) and Lighthouse Stories (with Kevin Brew and Chris Watson). Luke presents the daily RTÉ lyric fm programme, Culture File and its sister program, The Culture File Weekly. His dramas, In Praise of Darkness and The Vision Service were produced by RTÉ Radio 1.

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