HE may be unable to get back to writing yet, but author John B.Keane hasn't been obliged to forsake conversation, as he eloquently demonstrated in Dublin last Tuesday evening, Listowel's best known citizen was in the Gaiety Theatre's John B bar to speak of his town's forth coming Writers' Week its 26th but couldn't resist answering a few, questions about himself as well.
In particular, there were plenty of inquiries after his health Mr Keane has had two operations for prostate cancer in the past couple of years. While progress since has been good he still needs plenty of rest, which is why for the first time in his long career (he's 68 this year) he, hasn't been able to write but I've still plenty of work in me". His hope is to return to the old order later this summer.
Meanwhile, he's spending more time with, his wife Mary who accompanied him to Dublin. While her husband has slowed down, Mrs Keane says she remains as busy as ever, working on average four or five hours in the family's Listowel pub, which is now managed by the couple's son Billy. He wasn't at the Gaiety gathering, but other loyal supporters included Michael Hartnett, David Marcus and Bernard Farrell together with an old friend from Kerry, Supreme Court Judge Hugh O Flaherty.
I feel as though I'm one of the elders of the temple at the Listowel Writers' Week," remarked Mr Justice O'Flaherty, who's only in his mid 50s. "I was at the very first festival and I've been getting walk on parts ever since."