Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly was born in Galway in 1953. She is a full-time writer of poetry, fiction, drama and criticism, in both English and Irish. She lived in Maganey 4 miles from Carlow town with her late husband poet and writer Eoghan Ó Tuairisc or Eugene Watters.

Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly
Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly

Rita Kelly was born in Galway in 1953. She is a full-time writer of poetry, fiction, drama and criticism, in both English and Irish. She lived in Maganey 4 miles from Carlow town with her late husband poet and writer Eoghan Ó Tuairisc or Eugene Watters.

Rita Kelly

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Rita Kelly was born in Galway in 1953. Full-time writer of poetry, fiction, drama and criticism, in both English and Irish.

Has lived on the River Barrow at the Lock House, Maganey, 4 miles north of Carlow Town since 1972. She came to live there with her late husband, the poet & writer Eoghan Ó Tuairisc or Eugene Watters.

-She has won various awards for her work, including the Sean Ó Riordain Oireachtas Award; an Irish Times Poetry Award; Maxwell House Award.
-She has been awarded Arts Council Bursaries a various points in her career.
-Has been part of the Poets' Tour of Scotland & the Highlands on three occasions.
-She was chosen to attend the first National Workshops established by the Arts Council in the 70's and conducted by Anthony Cronin & John McGahern.
-She has read from her work in Ireland and abroad. She has read with Kazuo Ishiguro, Maire Mhac an tSaoi, Desmond Hogan et al.
-She has worked closely with many Writers' Groups throughout the country including Schools, Colleges and Prisons
-She is part of the Writers-in-Schools scheme since the early 80's
-Her work has been translated into German, Italian, French and Dutch.
-Her short stories were placed on the Literature Courses at Yale in the late 80's, that took her to the US.
-She is widely anthologised.
-Her Kelly reads Bewick won two Print Awards including the Best Printed Book in Ireland for 2001

Maire Mhac an tSaoi has said that "she is a love-poet of great lyric, power and beauty"

She has been Writer-in-Residence for Co. Laois and Co. Cavan.


Publications


2001:
Kelly reads Bewick, Arlen House, Dublin.
A critical and appreciative response to 50 of Pauline Bewick's Paintings

2000:
Travelling West, Arlen House, Dublin.
Poetry in English and Irish with translations by Edel Connolly.

Cavan Anthology (Editor), Cavan County Council.

1999:
From Here to the Horizon (Editor), Laois County Council.

1997:
Carlow Anthology (Editor), Carlow Writers.

1996:
Carlow Anthology (Editor), Carlow Writers.

1990:
Farewell-Beir Beannacht, Attic Press, Dublin.
Poetry in English and Irish with translations by herself

1986:
The Whispering Arch, Arlen House, Dublin.
Collection of short stories

1985:
Poetry Ireland Review, Vol. 13, (Editor)

1984:
An Bealach Eadóigh, Coiscéim, Dublin.
Collection of Irish Poetry

1981:
Dialann sa Díseart, Coiscéim, Dublin.
Collection of Irish Poetry with her late husband Eoghan Ó Tuairisc

1979:
Éigse Carlow Review, (Editor)