Connection

Gerold Sedlmayr

Of course, the prime interest for me to come to the first Brendan Kennelly two years ago was to catch a glimpse of the roots of the writer I was doing my Ph.D. thesis on.
I was stunned, however, to witness how forcefully all academic dust that had accumulated in my head while doing research was blown away by the pulsating life of this village and the stormy energy of its people.
And I was even more stunned when, at this year's festival, I realised that you again welcomed Ingunn and me as if we were two of your own - a very special sort of remembering.
It would become a list too long if I had to put in words each memory I have about these two festivals. Yet I can tell you: I cherish all of them. And Nancy, if I get the chance to come back, I'll learn one or two German songs.

Paul

Hot, very hot, but then again, crime writers
like it hot...I had a lot of fun
talking to a lively and committed group.
As ever, everything was very well organised
by the festival staff. And the hospitality was great!

John

Seems a shame to be talking about crime and punishment in a place so lovely, but thanks for giving us both the chance to talk about something we love with people who may, with luck, go on to be much better at it than we are....
Big hugs and continued success to a great, and unique endeavour.

Valeria Cos

How wonderful to join the voices of the Brendan Kennelly Summer School. Brings back all the memories, dreams and poetry of Trinity. Thank you for having me.

John McDonagh

Was Medea's crime Medea's Glory?

Thus Brendan concludes his version of Euripides' masterpiece, and the question is merely one of many raised by the corpus Kennelly.
His openness and personal generosity sometimes belies the sharp and cold eye he accurately casts on the people and places of Ireland.
This festival epitomises the energu and committment that is such a feature of Brendan's work and personality. It is a privilige to be invited and a delight to be involved.
All the best.


Miriam Purcill

Dear Mary,
Guess what the highlight of the festival was for me? No viagra jokes please.
I wanted to wait until the festival was over and the postpartum blues might have set in to thank you for such a wonderful few days.
The organisation, hard work and outright success was staggering, to say the least.
I think I learned far more about Brendan's work by inhabiting the bars, listening to talk and singing, listening to lectures and having Brendan join us in the workshops than I have done in my last year of Reading. Paddy's lecture taught me what I couldn't find in any book.
Thank you so very much.
Cheers and have a good year.
Met lovely people there whom I'll be seeing here in Dublin.
God Bless & congrats