Sheila O’Kelly recalls the life of the poet, translator and publisher on the anniversary of his death

 

Thomas Augustine Kinsella was born on the 4th May, 1928, in Inchicore, Dublin, to John Paul and Agnes Kinsella. Thomas was educated at the Model School in Inchicore where classes were taught in the Irish language. He also received his education at the O’Connell School on North Richmond Street, Dublin.

Thomas won a scholarship and entered University College, Dublin in 1946 where he studied physics and chemistry. During his time there, he commenced writing poetry that was published from 1951-1953 in National Student, the college magazine.

He abandoned physics and chemistry and commenced work in the Irish Civil Service in the Land Commission Department and later as secretary to T.K. Whitaker, Head of the Department of Finance. Thomas continued his studies at night having switched from science for a degree in Public Administration.

In 1951, he was introduced to Liam Miller, founder of Dolmen Press in Dublin. The following year, Dolmen Press published Kinsella’s collection of poetry, Starlit Eye. Thomas later became a director of Dolmen Press where a number of his poems were published and found a wider readership. He turned his attention to the translation of early medieval manuscripts from Irish into English.

In 1954, he translated Faeth Fiadha: The Breastplate of Saint Patrick. He translated a version of Longes Mac Usnig (The Exile of the Sons of Usnech and the Exile of Fergus and the Death of the Sons of Usnech and Deirdre), and Trecheng Breth Féne: Thirty-Three Triads also known as The Triads of Ireland, a miscellaneous collection of Irish poetry.

His translation into English of An Duanaire 1600-1900: Poems of the Dispossessed, a collection of Irish poetry selected and arranged by poet and playwright, Seán Ó Tuama, was published some years later.

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own