Collateral Lives – Fion Gunn in conversation with Dr Richard Benjamin

The College community was represented at this very prestigious event on Wednesday 15th June 2022. This was the first event in Gunn’s year-long residency with Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies which launched on the 31st of March 2022 at Victoria Gallery & Museum. In conversation with Dr Richard Benjamin, Head of the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool, Gunn presented her film ‘Child of our Time’ – a tribute to Eavan Boland and displayed some mixed media artworks which addresses the experience of women at times of war and its aftermath – the collateral lives of collateral victims. Gunn and Benjamin, currently visiting professors at University of Liverpool, explored the many touchpoints and their shared commitment to advocate for meaningful public engagement. Describing the impact of Boland’s writing on her own work Fion Gunn remarked “Eavan Boland, was an inspirational and under-recognised Irish poet. I first read her poem ‘Child of our Time’ as a 15-year-old, after the terrible bombing in Dublin in which three babies were killed. It has stayed with me ever since.” Mr Hicks who attended the event said, “a wonderful evening where a number of very important issues were spoken about. We look forward to welcoming Fion Gunn to the college campus in September”.