John Bs son for Clonakilty talk

News

BILLY Keane, (pictured, right) the son of famous playwright John B, is guest speaker at the March lecture organised by Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage.

The event titled The Life and Times of John B Keane, will take place at the Parish Centre in Clonakilty on Thursday March 12th, starting at 8.30pm.

One of Ireland’s most prolific literary figures, John B Keane lived most of his life in Listowel where, as a publican, he was provided with a rich source of inspiration for his humorous and passionate plays, novels and short stories.

Some of his most popular plays including The Field, Sive, Many Young Men of Twenty and Big Maggie have been staged by the local Kilmeen Drama Group over the years to great acclaim.

He also wrote many fine novels. A member of Aosdána and a founding member of the Society of Irish Playwrights, he won many awards for his literature, including a Gradam medal, the Abbey Theatre’s highest award, in 1999.

John B’s son Billy Keane is himself a well-known broadcaster and journalist and, like his father, is also a publican and novelist.

He runs the family pub in Listowel, along with his mother, John B’s popular wife.

Billy, too, possesses a fountain of knowledge on the colourful characters of his native Listowel.

He writes a regular column on his life in the Irish Independent, and is a popular and affable businessman in the north Kerry town.

All are welcome to attend the talk in Clonakilty, but the audience is advised to arrive early as seating will be limited on the night .