Justin Kavanagh

Justin Kavanagh is a writer and editor, who has worked for National Geographic since 2001. He was born in Ireland and grew up in County Wicklow, the “Garden of Ireland,” where he developed a lifelong love of nature and the outdoors. He is the author of the forthcoming title National Geographic Complete National Parks of Europe.

Kavanagh studied English literature and philosophy at University College Dublin, before leaving his homeland to work in London, Tokyo, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington D.C. His career in journalism began at the Irish Press in Dublin, and he has written widely on travel, culture, current affairs, and sport for National Geographic Traveler (Washington, D.C.), The Globalist online magazine (Washington, D.C.), The Independent (London), 90:00 (San Diego), The Title (Dublin), and In Dublin magazine.

He now works as a consultant international editor for National Geographic International Editions, which publishes magazines, books, and other media in more than 35 languages; he has also worked as Senior Editor for National Geographic Travel Books, where he wrote and edited guidebooks on Ireland, New York City, Ireland, Great Britain, France, and a host of other destinations worldwide. His editorial work with National Geographic International Editions keeps him in constant contact with the ever-evolving stories of the Earth’s populations, and in touch with the local-language offices of National Geographic Magazine’s many publishing partners around the world.

Kavanagh is also a travel host and expert lecturer for National Geographic Expeditions: He regularly leads the Ireland: Tales and Treasures of the Emerald Isle tour.

He now lives in Philadelphia, PA, and in Connemara, in the heart of the Galway Gaelteacht (Irish speaking area).