‘Dublin Valentines’ is the second in a series of twice-yearly public conversations in axis between Dermot Bolger and well known writers who are originally from or now live in Dublin, in which he explores their lives, their work and their relationship with their native or adoptive city.

 

Born in Dublin in 1944, Paul Durcan is one of Ireland’s greatest living poets, whose incendiary live readings are legendary. His numerous acclaimed works include The Berlin Wall Café (1985); Daddy, Daddy (1990); Cries of an Irish Caveman (2001) and The Laughter of Mother (2007). His popular radio talks for The Pat Kenny Radio Show were published as ‘Paul Durcan’s Diary’ and he has held the Ireland Chair of Poetry.

 

Brian Keenan went to Beirut in 1985 for a change of scene from his native Belfast. He became headline news when he was kidnapped by fundamentalist Shi’ite militiamen and held in Beirut for the next four and a half years, shut off from contact with anyone other than his jailers and, later, his fellow hostages, including John McCarthy. He explored this experience in his monumental debut book, the autobiographical An Evil Cradling (1992) and has since gone on to forge a career as a deeply respected and admired author with such books as his novel, Turlough (2000), and his remarkable travelogue/memoir, Four Quarters of Light: An Alaskan Journey (2004). He has made his home in Dublin.

 

Dermot Bolger is one of Ireland’s leading novelists and playwrights. He is currently Playwright in Association with axis, who have staged his award-winning works in Ballymun as well as Britain, America, Poland and Belgium. The final part of his Ballymun Trilogy, ‘The Consequences of Lightning’, is staged by axis this November/December.