GALLERY: Leitrim hosts murder, mystery and the almost Perfect Crime

The fog rolling in around Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway on Sunday evening provided a fitting backdrop for Following the Evidence, an evening of crime, science and conversation that marked the opening weekend of the first Leitrim Roscommon Science Week.

Hosted by Dr Barry Fitzgerald, the event brought together Leitrim native and well-known crime journalist Paul Williams and John Sweetman, host of the Lines of Enquiry podcast, to discuss some of Ireland's most intriguing criminal cases and the role science has played in solving them.

One of the main topics of conversation was the murder of Elaine O'Hara, a case the speakers described as coming close to the perfect murder. The panel discussed how evidence from several different areas of science ultimately came together to help investigators solve the case. It was a fascinating insight into just how important forensic science has become in criminal investigations and how even the smallest piece of evidence can prove crucial.

The conversation also turned to cases the speakers would have liked to have investigated or covered themselves. John Sweetman revealed that his interest in handwriting had drawn him to the Zodiac Killer case, which remains one of the most famous unsolved criminal mysteries in the world.

There was also plenty of discussion about advances in science and technology and how these are likely to

change criminal investigations in the future, both for those trying to solve crimes and those attempting to evade detection.

The 90-minute discussion flew by, and if there was one common reaction from the audience afterwards, it was that they would happily have stayed for another hour. The combination of the speakers' knowledge, personal insights and stories made for a thoroughly engaging evening.

The event rounded off a busy opening weekend for Leitrim Roscommon Science Week, which is being held for the first time this year.

At Leitrim School of Art, children enjoyed a Flowing Ceramics workshop, creating underwater-themed plates and experimenting with bubble glazing techniques while learning about the role water plays in ceramics.

On Sunday morning, families joined Janet Laffey from the River Basin Management Service at Lough Key for What Lies Beneath?, exploring the tiny creatures living in our waterways and how they can tell us about the health of our rivers and lakes.

There is plenty more to come throughout the week, with talks, workshops, science shows and activities

taking place across both counties. The week will finish with a Family Science Day at Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway on Sunday, November 15, from 12pm to 4pm, featuring a wide range of hands-on activities, demonstrations and exhibits for all ages.