PEN Award leaves Kennelly amazed
Wednesday February 03 2010
NORTH Kerry literary great, Brendan Kennelly, has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to literature, having received the 2010 Irish PEN Award at the weekend.
The Ballylongford scribe was presented with the coveted award by Senator David Norris, who described him as a brilliant poet and one of the world's greatest teachers.
He thanked Kennelly for enriching the lives of others through his work and said it was appropriate that he should receive the award, which honours Irish writers who have written and produced significant bodies of work over a number of years.
At the gala ceremony at the Royal St George Yacht Club on Friday night, the Kerry poet and playwright said he was overwhelmed with the accolade.
"I can't say how honoured I am. It's an amazing award," he said at the beginning of a 20 minute speech, during which he gave several recitations of poetry in English and Irish.
A former professor of Modern Literature at Trinity College, Brendan Kennelly boasts over 30 publications during a career that has spanned 40 years. His work includes both prose and verse, some of the most famous being 'Cromwell '(1983/87), 'Poetry me Arse' (1995) and more recently 'Reservoir Voices'.
Previous winners of the award include William Trevor, Seamus Heaney and Maeve Binchy.
- MARISA REIDY
