The author who put a human face on the migrant crisis in the Med

The LÉ Samuel Beckett dropped anchor in Bantry Bay yesterday to play an integral part in the West Cork Literary Festival.

This particular festival highlight took place onboard and featured BBC radio journalist Emma Jane Kirby. She was interviewed by Sue Leonard about her recent book The Optician of Lampedusa, which she wrote after reporting from the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.

The naval ship was an inspired venue, not only for its literary name but for the shared journey of the vessel and its crew, who served in the Mediterranean on humanitarian work rescuing migrants from the ocean.