FemFest 2025 at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) welcomed Booker Prize winning author, Bernardine Evaristo, to the College this week where an audience of 250 witnessed a fascinating live conversation covering topics including growing up, her family and Irish connections, race and racism, finding her tribe in theatre, how her writing has evolved and how winning Britain’s most prestigious literary prize in 2019 changed her life.
The author was interviewed by award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Ciana Campbell, at MIC Limerick. As well as a lively questions and answers session, she also read from her novel Girl, Woman, Other, which won the Booker Prize 2019. She was the first black woman and black British person to win it in its 50-year history.
The author also spoke at length about her memoir, Manifesto, and other works including her debut, Lara, and 2013 novel Mr Loverman—which was released last year as an eight-part BBC drama. She met many audience members as she signed books after the event.
Bernardine Evaristo is the author of 10 books and numerous writings that span the genres of fiction, verse fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays, literary criticism, journalism, and radio and theatre drama. Her
Speaking on behalf of the FemFest Committee, Chair, Dr Kathryn Laing of the Department of English Language & Literature, commented:
“The FemFest Committee is honoured to welcome Bernardine Evaristo to MIC for this year’s headline event. As a longstanding advocate and activist for inclusion in literature and the arts, she has championed throughout her career the voices of the marginalised and created narratives that celebrate diversity, resilience and humanity. Her Booker Prize-winning novel, Girl, Woman, Other, copper-fastened her reputation as one of the leading feminist storytellers of our time, and as FemFest is a celebration of creativity, empowerment, and the female voices that are shaping and redefining our cultural landscape, it is fitting that she contributed her insights to the discussion in her conversation with Ciana Campbell.”
MIC FemFest is a biannual festival run by a committee comprising members of academic, professional services and student communities at the College. The festival consists of events celebrating the social, cultural and economic achievements of women.
For more information, see www. www.mic.ie/FemFest or email FemFest@mic.ul.ie.
