Author, WOUNDED TIGRIS, 2023 | Irish writer, broadcaster, chancer | Stories at 3mph for š, šŗ ,š» | Co-founder: @zagrostrail | Yale World Fellow
Beirut/Damascus
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Today is publication day for āWounded Tigrisā- you can order hardback, digital and audio copies here: geni.us/WoundedTigris
Hurray!
I have no idea how to feel now that 4 years worth of work is finally released to the world, so I made a short thread:
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Back in China for the first time in six years to write about the Kailas FUGA Extreme Glacier Challenge Race. Iāve spent the week in Sichuan among lush wooded valleys, rivers of gunmetal grey, and the towering, triangular, 7509m peak of Gongga Mountain. Tomorrow, we run!
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Leon McCarron retweeted
NEW: @leonmccarron speaks to ATHAR Peojectās @alazmamr for @newlinesmag about the growing illicit antiquities trade in the new Syria š§µ
newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
With 90% of the population going hungry, Syrians are turning to looting of archaeological sites just to survive. Leon McCarron reports from across Syria to assess the damage, for @newlinesmag
newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
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Leon McCarron retweeted
With 90% of the population going hungry, Syrians are turning to looting of archaeological sites just to survive. @leonmccarron reports from across Syria to assess the damage, for @newlinesmag.
newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
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Leon McCarron retweeted
Looting the Past To Survive
With 90% of the population going hungry, Syrians are turning to looting of archaeological sites just to survive.
- @leonmccarron reports from across Syria to assess the damage, for @newlinesmag. newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
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Some of the sites I visited for this story on treasure hunters- the crusader castle at Krak des Chevaliers, the 3rd millennium BC port city of Amrite, classical-era Palmyra, and Roman Bosra. Such a privilege to see even a fraction of Syriaās riches.
newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
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I wrote about the damage caused by treasure hunters to heritage sites in Syria since the fall of Assad, and the circumstances that have caused such desperation. For @newlinesmag, here:
newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
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Leon McCarron retweeted
NEW: With 90% of the population going hungry, Syrians are turning to looting of archaeological sites just to survive. @leonmccarron reports from across Syria to assess the damage, for @newlinesmag.
newlinesmag.com/reportage/trā¦
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Leon McCarron retweeted
āFor thousands of years, Syria was a crossroads of empires, a pivotal point for Silk Road trade & a bridge connecting the Mediterranean to Mesopotamia & points further east.ā
Could its crumbling, Ottoman-era railway now reinvigorate the region? @leonmccarron explores.
noemamag.com/the-unlikely-reā¦
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My report from Bosra in southern Syria for āFrom Our Own Correspondentā on @BBCRadio4 and @bbcworldservice. I ask whether there are realistic hopes for a revival of tourism in the country, or if it is simply too soon, and too uncertain- starting at 22.20: bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002bgā¦
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Leon McCarron retweeted
Could a railroad that once linked Damascus to Medina, its tracks & stations now crumbling or destroyed by treasure hunters, help stitch a fragmented region back together?
@leonmccarron explores.
noemamag.com/the-unlikely-reā¦
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I have spent most of this year in Syria, mostly researching an upcoming book. I wrote this essay for @NoemaMag from Damascus on the past, present and future of the Hejaz Railway:
noemamag.com/the-unlikely-reā¦
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Wrapping up a life-enhancing four months at @Yale as part of the @WorldFellows. Iām very grateful to the program, to the students and faculty that I got to know, and especially to my 15 fellow fellows, all doing astounding things in their fields. Now heading back east for 2025ā¦
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A #journorequest: Iām looking for Syrians who have memories of taking trains in the country. Most specifically Iām interested in Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Damascus and Deraāa, but happy for memories from anywhere. Itās a broad request- all stories welcome! Thank you š
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Bus station in Derry. Are you going to Donegal? I ask a driver. āAre YOU going to Donegal?ā he replies. Iād like to, I say. āSure weād all like to go to Donegal,ā he says. āLetterkenny?ā asks a lady next to me. āWe could try that too,ā he says, so we get on, confused but cheery.
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Iāll be in #Belfast tomorrow night, Thursday, to talk about the Tigris river and Iraq. And whatever else comes up!
7pm at Queenās University, hosted by @RGS_IBG. Itās also free, and Iāll be signing books. rgs.org/events/upcoming-evenā¦
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Leon McCarron retweeted
Given the news coming out of France, & how big the discussion around migration/immigration seems to be, I wanted to repost about āMy Fourth Time, We Drownedā being available in French now. Weāve struggled to get media interest in its release but the info in it is very relevant.
C'est la premiĆØre fois que je vois la version franƧaise de "My Fourth Time, We Drowned", dĆ©sormais disponible dans toute la France. S'il vous plaĆ®t, si vous avez les moyens de le soutenir (acheter/partager/recommander/emprunter Ć la bibliothĆØque) faites-le buchetchastel.fr/catalogue/bā¦
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Iām so pleased the paperback version of this book is out, and Iād be extra pleased if you decide to buy it from @StanfordsTravel! The travel writing genre can feel tough at times, but we are very lucky to have a renowned bookseller like Stanfords who offer so much support š
Wounded Tigris: A River Journey through the Cradle of Civilisation by @leonmccarron is one of the brilliant Travel Book of the Year Shortlisted Titles for the Edward Stanford Awards 2024!
The paperback is now out, make sure you grab a copy stanfords.co.uk/wounded-tigrā¦
@CorsairBooks
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Last week I was awarded the Cherry Kearton Medal from @RGS_IBG, for a dedication to unearthing the importance, beauty and fragility of natural history. Came back from Iraq for the ceremony but arrived too late for pics, so hereās the medal now safely back in Ireland.
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Leon McCarron retweeted
The river Tigris is in danger.
It has been the lifeblood of ancient Mesopotamia and modern Iraq, but geopolitics and climate change have left it at risk of becoming uninhabitable.
Follow @leonmccarron as he journeys the full length, in search of hope: brnw.ch/21wKvkl
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