Waterford council buys Lismore home of renowned travel writer Dervla Murphy

Waterford council buys Lismore home of renowned travel writer Dervla Murphy

Travel writer Dervla Murphy at her home in Lismore, Co Waterford. Picture: Dan Linehan

Waterford City and County Council has purchased the Lismore home of the late international travel writer Dervla Murphy.

The house and 0.6 acres of land was the property of the writer’s daughter Rachel.

The site lies behind an alleyway leading off the main street in Lismore, and contains the remnant of a 17th-century cattle market, along with several redeveloped outbuildings.

The acquisition, for an as yet undisclosed sum, was financed by the Building and Land Acquisition Measure from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The council says while it “cannot release the specific price involve”, it was “reasonable in comparison with other properties sold in the same vicinity”.

It was a home much-loved by the writer and from where she penned most of her 26 books.

Dervla Murphy's presence in the town inspired the founding of the renowned Immrama Travel Writers Festival, which has attracted dozens of high-profile guest speakers from across the globe since its inauguration in 2003.

While names such Michael Palin, Colm Tóibín and Fergal Keane addressed gatherings, the writer herself declined invitations to grace the festival after its first year, saying it had become "too commercial". 

She also rejected a civic reception in her honour, claiming to have "an allergy to such occasions". 

Instead, she invited the council round to her place "for a few beers and a chat on the future of Ireland".

Ms Murphy died in May 2022, aged 90.

Locals had long campaigned for her Lismore home to be retained as a cultural monument.

Local councillor John Pratt, who first urged the council to purchase the property, said he was “delighted with the outcome”, and hoped “whatever way it is developed, it reflects its cultural and historical links with its legendary prior owner”.

Waterford City and County mayor Seamus Ryan said the acquisition presented a wonderful opportunity to create a heritage space that “not only honours Dervla’s remarkable legacy, but would bring her writings, her global observations and her boundless sense of adventure to life”.

A spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council said “a survey and evaluation of the site will now be undertaken and a cultural heritage and development study commissioned to explore the range of options for developing the site”.

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