Literature

John B. Keane

Born in Listowel in 1928, John B. Keane was a former president of Irish P.E.N., the society of playwrights. He also held honorary doctorates from Trinity College, Dublin and Marymount Manhattan College, New York as well as Honorary Life Membership of the RDS. He was a founder member of the Society of Irish Playwrights.

His main works for theatre included: Sive; Sharon’s Grave; The Man from Clare; The Year of the Hiker; The Field; Many Young Men of Twenty; Big Maggie; Moll; The Chastitute, and Faoiseamh. Novels included The Bodhran Makers; Durango; The Contractors; and A High Meadow. He also published collections of essays, such as Love Bites, Owl Sandwiches and a collection of poems, The Street and Other Poems.

Many of his works were adapted for film, including a highly acclaimed version of The Field. He received the Sunday Tribune Award for Literature (1986); Sunday Independent Special Arts Award (1986); American-Irish Award for Literature (1988); Kerryman of the Year (1989); and People of the Year Award (1990).

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