‘Brendan Kennelly and the Rosary’ by Joe McVeigh

I listened to a most interesting interview on RTE radio on Sunday morning with the poet Brendan Kennelly. Miriam O’Callaghan interviewed Brendan on the occasion of his 80^th birthday and to mark his return to live in his native Kerry. Brendan is one of my favourite poets and people. I met him only once on Westmoreland street in Dublin years ago and had it confirmed that we were related through marriage. He taught English in Trinity College for almost 40 years. He has published 20 books of poetry and has written some of the finest poetry ever to come from an Irish pen. He loves poetry and it is clear that he has a gift. His gift is his insight into the peculiarities of Irish people and he appreciates the Christian faith and heritage. He loves Gaelic football and played for the Kerry minor team which were beaten by Dublin in an all-Ireland final many years ago. It is clear that Brendan loves people. He regrets that his marriage broke down. He seemed to blame himself.

When Miriam asked if he believed in God he said: “I do but I also believe in Mary,” and he added, “I say the Rosary every day.” Which surprised Miriam, me and, I’m sure, many listeners. Here is one of the great poets of our time who has written what could be called real bawdy poems telling the nation that he says the Rosary every day – at a time when many in Ireland are rejecting their Catholic faith. I too aspire to say the Rosary every day. Some days I do and some days I don’t. My excuse – I am too busy. But Brendan says he loves reciting the Rosary and he says or recites it while walking about. He says it is the music of the prayer that appeals to him and he recited a ‘Hail Mary’ to show what he meant. It was beautiful as spoken by him and it was clear that he meant every word. It is encouraging to hear a poet of his stature speak so openly and honestly about his faith. There was no cynicism, no anger and no sense of guilt that we hear so often nowadays from the cognoscenti and the literati. Brendan admires the poet Patrick Kavanagh, whom he knew personally, though he had difficulties with his gruff personality.

It is clear that his father (a man who liked music and dancing) and his mother both had a great influence on him as had a woman teacher in his first school. He was one of a large family and they lived in a pub in Ballylongford in north Kerry. His brother still carries on the pub. One of his most popular poems is called ‘Begin’. It was written after he had heart surgery in Dublin:

Begin

Begin again to the summoning birds,

to the sight of the light at the window,

begin to the roar of morning traffic

all along Pembroke Road.

Every beginning is a promise

born in light and dying in dark

determination and exaltation of springtime

flowering the way to work.

Being to the pageant of queuing girls

the arrogant loneliness of swans in the canal

bridges linking the past and future

old friends passing through with us still.

Begin to the loneliness that cannot end

since it perhaps is what makes us begin,

begin to wonder at unknown faces

at crying birds in the sudden rain

at branches stark in the willing sunlight

at seagulls foraging for bread

at couples sharing a sunny secret

alone together while making good.

Though we live in a world that dreams of ending

that always seems about to give in

something that will not acknowledge conclusion

insists that forever begin.