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The Poetry Programme

Image Ref. No. 4275/095 Image Name: Image Ref. No. 4275/095

17 April 2016 marks Brendan Kennelly’s 80th birthday, and the Poetry Programme on 16 April celebrates his life and work.

 

Born in Ballylongford, Co Kerry on 17 April 1936, Brendan Kennelly is a much-loved Irish poet who became well known beyond poetry-reading circles through his frequent radio and TV appearances, where he was an eloquent and popular contributor. He taught for many years in the English Department at Trinity College Dublin and,as well as novels and plays, produced more than thirty collections of poetry. Many of his poems take on other voices, sometimes despised voices, as in his works ‘Cromwell’ and ‘The Book of Judas’.

 

The Poetry Programme visits Listowel, County Kerry, where they have big plans to mark his birthday, and we hear recordings of readings by Brendan himself from the CD accompanying the book ‘The Essential Brendan Kennelly’, published by Bloodaxe.

 

The Poetry Programme: For everyone who loves poetry. And those who just don’t know it yet.

 

The Poetry Programme is a Rockfinch production for RTÉ.

 

 

 

PHOTO

 

Brendan Kennelly (Credit: RTÉ Stills 1996)