Paul KeenanFamed Irish poet Brendan Kennelly has said he prays the Rosary every day and loves the “music of prayer”.
Ahead of events to mark his 80th year, Kennelly was the subject of a broad-ranging interview on RTÉ Radio, during which he spoke of his roots in Co. Kerry, his calling as a poet and the importance of faith to him.
“I pray the Rosary every day,” he revealed. “I love Mary. I love the idea of prayers as music. They’re very human.”
Going on to recite the Hail Mary in full, Kennelly said afterwards the words relating to Mary “giving birth to God himself is music to my ears”.
“I say it walking the streets. I enjoy it.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the intersection of poetry and faith became most evident in Kennelly’s poem ‘Begin’ which, he explained, was written as he recovered from heart surgery and considered how “Christianity, its prayers, the Resurrection” are all about “new beginnings”. In part, ‘Begin’ reflects:
‘Though we live in a world that dreams of ending
that always seems about to give in
something that will not acknowledge conclusion
insists that we forever begin.’