Calls for a museum as the home of late 'iconic' Waterford travel writer to go on sale
Travel writer Dervla Murphy at her home in Lismore, Co Waterford. Picture Dan Linehan
Dungarvan-Lismore Councillor John Pratt has asked Waterford City and County Council to consider buying the home of the late Dervla Murphy to turn it into a museum.
He said at this week’s full sitting of the council in Dungarvan that the late travel writer’s home might be coming up for sale and that this was a great opportunity to honour her legacy and promote Lismore.
“She is worldwide. People come to Lismore and they want to know where she lived. She was an iconic figure,” said Cllr Pratt.
The councillor then asked for support in the chamber for his proposal, made during Any Other Business.
Cllr Pratt was supported by Cllr Damian Geoghegan and Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy. Cllr Geoghegan praised his colleague for raising the issue.
“Dervla Murphy was one of the great travel writers of the 20th century. I think it's something worth exploring, and Cllr Pratt is to be commended for raising that issue," said Cllr Geoghegan.
Cllr Mulcahy said the councillor made “a great point.”
“Anything we can do to boost tourism in West Waterford. As he has said, Lismore is a heritage town, and I think we could be doing a lot more to bring people into West Waterford,” said Cllr Mulcahy.
The Director of Services for Planning, Corporate, Culture, HR and IS, Ivan Grimes said they were aware of the house coming on the market. He said it is something the council are "looking at," but stressed the house “is not in great condition.”
“We are aware the property is on the market. There is no budget for this project, and it's not a simple question of buying the house, it requires significant investment and as of now there is no budget,” said Mr Grimes.
Derval Murphy was the author of over 20 travel books. Her first book, 'Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle', was published in 1965.
She grew up and spent much of her later life in Lismore before her passing in May 2022' at the age of 90. Her childhood home, Westview in South Mall, Lismore, was sold in 2019 for €525,000.
