Kennelly, Brendan (1936– )

Irish writer, best known for his poetry. Kennelly was born in Ballylongford, County Kerry, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and the University of Leeds. His verse extols the infinite complexity and variety of the human condition: its loves, its hatreds, its history of violence, and its desire for understanding and compassion. He has published several poetry collections, as well as long poem sequences, such as Cromwell (1983) and The Book of Judas (1991), and novels and plays. In 1973 he became professor of Modern English at Trinity College, Dublin.