John B. Keane

John Brendan Keane ( born July 21, 1928 in Listowel, County Kerry, † May 30, 2002 ) was an Irish playwright and writer.

Life

Keane was born the son of William B. Keane and Hannah Purtill in Listowel and spent his youth there. After completing his school education at a college in Listowel, he worked from 1946 to 1951 as an assistant in a pharmacy. From 1951 to 1955 he lived in the UK, where he earned his living with various activities. In 1955, he then returned to Listowel, there to operate a tavern.

Keane was awarded the lifetime honorary membership in the Royal Dublin Society in 1991. He was president of Irish PEN and co-founder of the Society of Irish Playwrights. He has also acted in the group Aosdána that allows Irish artists by awarding scholarships to devote themselves exclusively to their work. As a prominent member of the Fine Gael Party, Keane spared his life, never a political debate.

At the age of 73 years, Keane died in 2002 at his home in Listowel, which also houses a well-known tavern, of cancer. He was married to Mary O'Connor, with whom he had four children. His life's work comprises 46 published works.

Works

Plays

  • Sive ( premiere 1959)
  • Sharon 's Grave (1960 )
  • The Highest House on the Mountain ( 1961)
  • No More in Dust ( 1961)
  • Many Young Men of Twenty (1961 )
  • Hut 42 (1962 )
  • The Man from Clare (1962 )
  • Seven Irish Plays ( 1967)
  • The Year of the Hiker
  • The Field
  • Big Maggie
  • Minor
  • The Crazy Wall
  • The Buds of Ballybunion
  • The Chastitute
  • Faoiseamh
  • The Matchmaker

Novels

  • The Bodhran Makers
  • Durango
  • The Contractors
  • A High Meadow
  • Letters of a Successful T.d

Essays

  • Love Bites
  • Owl sandwiches

Films

PEN International Integrated Authority File
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