Kinsella, Thomas, 1928-2021

Hide Profile

Thomas Kinsella was born on May 4, 1928, in Inchicore, outside Dublin, Ireland to John Paul and Agnes (Casserly) Kinsella. He earned a diploma in public administration from University College Dublin and entered the Irish civil service in 1946, writing poetry in his spare time. During this period he met three people who influenced much of his life: Eleanor Walsh, a radiology student, whom he married in 1955; Liam Miller, publisher at Dolmen Press; and the composer Seán Ó Riada. Thomas and Ellen had three children: Sara, John, and Mary. His first poetry pamphlet, The Starlit Eye (1952), was published by Dolmen Press, as was Poems (1956), his first book-length publication. In 1965, he moved to the United States to take a position as poet-in-residence at Southern Illinois University. In 1967, he became a Professor of English at Temple University, where he remained for twenty years. Kinsella published more than 30 volumes of poetry, winning several awards, and also wrote critical works and translated four volumes of poetry from Gaelic, notably The Táin (Dolmen Press, 1969), in a collaboration with the artist Louis le Brocquy. In 1972, Kinsella founded Peppercanister Press, named after the local nickname for a church near his home in Dublin, to publish his own work. Kinsella returned to Dublin after he retired from academia. He received the honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin in May 2007, and an honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin in December 2018. Kinsella died on December 22, 2021.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Holy Door records, 1965-1966. Southern Illinois University, Morris Library
creatorOf Kinsella, Thomas. Thomas Kinsella papers, 1951-2008. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn John Montague fonds University of Victoria Libraries, UVic
creatorOf Boston College collection of Thomas Kinsella Boston College. John J. Burns Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf John F. Deane papers Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn M. L. Rosenthal Papers, ca. 1930-1996 Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Seamus Deane papers Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Poetry Book Society. Poetry Book Society records, 1962-1970 (majority 1966-1970) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Poetry mss., 1954-2002 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Dolmen Press. Dolmen Press collection. [1951-1964]. University of Victoria Libraries, UVic
referencedIn Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. Houghton Library
creatorOf Kinsella, Thomas. Letter : to R.P. Kingston : A.L.S., 1970 Feb. 3. University of Rhode Island Library, Kingston, University Library
creatorOf Poetry Book Society. Poetry Book Society records, 1962-1970 (majority 1966-1970) University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
creatorOf Kinsella, Thomas. Letter : to Mr. Dorecki, 1974 March 2. University of Rhode Island Library, Kingston, University Library
creatorOf Kinsella, Thomas. Interview transcript, [between 1967 and 1986]. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn University of Connecticut Libraries Records, undated, 1882- Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Dolmen Press Collection, Publications Series, 1945-1987. Wake Forest University - ZSR Library, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
creatorOf Heuser, David D., 1966-. Cúchulainn's warp-spasm : for spoken voice, effects and tape / music by David Heuser ; text translated by Thomas Kinsella. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn Desmond O'Grady papers Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Clarke, Austin, 1896-1974. Arena editorial office files, 1960-1965. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM Libraries
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series VI., Editorial Department Files, 1915-1984 (bulk 1948-1978). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Deane, John F., 1943- person
associatedWith Deane, Seamus, 1940- person
associatedWith Dolmen Press. corporateBody
correspondedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
associatedWith Heuser, David D., 1966- person
associatedWith Modern Poetry Association corporateBody
associatedWith Montague, John. person
associatedWith O'Grady, Desmond, 1929- person
associatedWith Peppercanister Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Poetry Book Society corporateBody
associatedWith Poetry Book Society. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Connecticut. University of Connecticut Libraries. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Dublin L IE
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Publishers and publishing
English poetry
Irish poetry
Literature, Modern
Poetry, Modern
Poets, Irish
Occupation
Author
English Professor
Poets
Translator
Activity

Person

Birth 1928-05-04

Death 2021-12-22

Birth 1959

English,

Irish

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kx6857

Ark ID: w6kx6857

SNAC ID: 88104580