Dr. Peter Kavanagh
Encyclopedia
Peter Kavanagh was a writer
, scholar, and publisher who collected, edited, and published the works of his brother, poet Patrick Kavanagh
.
, and upon receiving his diploma from the Patrician Brothers School in Carrickmacross
, Kavanagh attended St. Patrick’s Teachers College in Dublin, where he became a certified National Teacher (1936), graduated M.A. from the National University of Ireland
(1941), and Ph.D. from Trinity College, Dublin
in (1944).
His next work was The History of the Abbey Theatre, New York 1950. Sean O’Casey described it in a front-page review in the New York Times Book Review as “impartial history and the best book written on the subject.” In 1950 Kavanagh edited the subject Ireland in the Encyclopædia Britannica
(1950–51) and wrote articles pertaining to Ireland for the American Mercury magazine (1950–1952), under the editorship of William Bradford Huie
.
In 1952 with Patrick Kavanagh, he founded Kavanagh’s Weekly, a literary journal created by the two men to give the poet a forum in which to express his point-of-view. It lasted only thirteen weeks.
in Brooklyn, New York. From 1947 to 1949 he was a Professor of Modern Poetry at Loyola University
, Chicago. From 1949 to 1950 he taught poetry at Gannon College
(now University) in Erie, Pennsylvania
, and 1964–1968 at the University of Wisconsin–Stout.
In 1958 Kavanagh, now living permanently in New York, built his own printing press from scraps of wood and metal collected from construction sites near his apartment on East 29th Street, New York. He wrote, printed and published a series of plays based on the lives of several Catholic saints. He then set out to publish his brother’s poetry, which had been largely ignored by commercial publishers. Kavanagh dismissed commercial publishing as being substandard. His first major accomplishment as publisher of the Peter Kavanagh Handpress, was to print, publish, and copyright a selection of Patrick's poetry in a work entitled, Recent Poems.
In 1960, he hand printed a synopsis of the John Quinn
letters then held exclusively by the New York Public Library
. The New York Times
of January 17 1960 reported the event in a front-page story.
The Library sued for breach of copyright.
After the death of Patrick Kavanagh in 1967, Dr. Kavanagh ended his career as a Professor of Modern Poetry at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, and began publishing a series of books on the poet’s life:
He published several other books including a Dictionary of Irish Mythology, several plays including The Dancing Flame: A Documentary Drama of the Poet in Society (1981); and his own autobiography in two parts, Beyond Affection (1977) and Piling Up the Ricks (1989). He devoted the rest of his life to placing the works of the poet on the record.
In 1986, Kavanagh negotiated the sale of Patrick Kavanagh's papers as well as a large collection of his own work devoted to the late poet. Kavanagh included in the sale his original hand press. The archive is housed in a special collections room at the University College Dublin, and the hand press is on loan to the Patrick Kavanagh Literary Resource Centre, Inniskeen
.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, scholar, and publisher who collected, edited, and published the works of his brother, poet Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh was an Irish poet and novelist. Regarded as one of the foremost poets of the 20th century, his best known works include the novel Tarry Flynn and the poems Raglan Road and The Great Hunger...
.
Education
Kavanagh was born in the Parish of Inniskeen, Ireland, March 19, 1916, the youngest of ten children. He attended the local schools, continued to secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, and upon receiving his diploma from the Patrician Brothers School in Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross or Carrickmacros is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 4,387 according to the 2006 census, making it the second largest town in the county. The town won the prestigious European Entente Florale Silver Medal Award. It is a market town which...
, Kavanagh attended St. Patrick’s Teachers College in Dublin, where he became a certified National Teacher (1936), graduated M.A. from the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
(1941), and Ph.D. from Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in (1944).
Scholarship
Kavanagh began his writing career as the historian of the Irish theatre. His first publication, The History of Irish Theatre (1947), detailed the origins and development of theatre in Ireland.His next work was The History of the Abbey Theatre, New York 1950. Sean O’Casey described it in a front-page review in the New York Times Book Review as “impartial history and the best book written on the subject.” In 1950 Kavanagh edited the subject Ireland in the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
(1950–51) and wrote articles pertaining to Ireland for the American Mercury magazine (1950–1952), under the editorship of William Bradford Huie
William Bradford Huie
William Bradford "Bill" Huie was an American journalist, editor, publisher, television interviewer, screenwriter, lecturer, and novelist.-Biography:...
.
In 1952 with Patrick Kavanagh, he founded Kavanagh’s Weekly, a literary journal created by the two men to give the poet a forum in which to express his point-of-view. It lasted only thirteen weeks.
Publishing
Kavanagh came to the United States in 1946 where he began teaching at St. Francis CollegeSaint Francis College
St. Francis College is a private, coeducational college located in Brooklyn Heights, New York, in the United States. It was founded in 1859 by the Franciscan friars as the St. Francis Academy. St...
in Brooklyn, New York. From 1947 to 1949 he was a Professor of Modern Poetry at Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, Chicago. From 1949 to 1950 he taught poetry at Gannon College
Gannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
(now University) in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, and 1964–1968 at the University of Wisconsin–Stout.
In 1958 Kavanagh, now living permanently in New York, built his own printing press from scraps of wood and metal collected from construction sites near his apartment on East 29th Street, New York. He wrote, printed and published a series of plays based on the lives of several Catholic saints. He then set out to publish his brother’s poetry, which had been largely ignored by commercial publishers. Kavanagh dismissed commercial publishing as being substandard. His first major accomplishment as publisher of the Peter Kavanagh Handpress, was to print, publish, and copyright a selection of Patrick's poetry in a work entitled, Recent Poems.
In 1960, he hand printed a synopsis of the John Quinn
John Quinn
John Quinn or Jack Quinn is the name of:*Jack Quinn , White House counsel, 1995–1996*Jack Quinn , Congressman from New York*Jack Quinn III, Assemblyman from Erie County, New York and son of the Congressman...
letters then held exclusively by the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
of January 17 1960 reported the event in a front-page story.
The Library sued for breach of copyright.
After the death of Patrick Kavanagh in 1967, Dr. Kavanagh ended his career as a Professor of Modern Poetry at the University of Wisconsin–Stout, and began publishing a series of books on the poet’s life:
- Lapped Furrows (1969), correspondence between himself and Patrick as well as a memoir on Patrick by Sister Celia;
- November Haggard, a collection of prose and poetry (1971)
- Garden of the Golden Apples, A Bibliography (1971)
- Complete Poems of Patrick Kavanagh (1972, 1984, 1996, 2000)
- By Night Unstarred (1978) A conflated novel by Patrick Kavanagh
- Sacred Keeper (1978), a biography
- Patrick Kavanagh: A Life Chronicle (2000), also a biography
He published several other books including a Dictionary of Irish Mythology, several plays including The Dancing Flame: A Documentary Drama of the Poet in Society (1981); and his own autobiography in two parts, Beyond Affection (1977) and Piling Up the Ricks (1989). He devoted the rest of his life to placing the works of the poet on the record.
In 1986, Kavanagh negotiated the sale of Patrick Kavanagh's papers as well as a large collection of his own work devoted to the late poet. Kavanagh included in the sale his original hand press. The archive is housed in a special collections room at the University College Dublin, and the hand press is on loan to the Patrick Kavanagh Literary Resource Centre, Inniskeen
Inniskeen
Inniskeen, officially Inishkeen , is a small village and parish in County Monaghan, Ireland, close to the County Louth and County Armagh borders. It is located about 17 km from Dundalk and 12 km from Carrickmacross and 5 km from Crossmaglen...
.