Irish Examiner View: Ellen Hutchins Festival to remember Ireland's first botanist

Carrie O’Flynn, historical re-enactor, in costume of the early 1800s, on Whiddy Island, at the Ellen Hutchins Festival two years ago

Ellen Hutchins, Ireland’s first female botanist, will be remembered next week as the annual Ellen Hutchins Festival gets underway online from Saturday.

The significant contribution made to the world of botany by this singular 18th-century woman might have been lost to us had it not been for Michael Mitchell, professor of botany at NUI Galway, and Ellen’s great-great-grand niece Madeline.