Anthony Cronin documentary on Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan & Flann O'Brien. Part 1 of 4

'Arena: Three Irish Writers', broadcast in 1991.

[@MartinONeillYork]

I vividly remember watching this with my late father when it was on TV in the early 90s. We recorded it on video cassette and rewatched it a few times after. I’ve been looking for this on-and-off for the past twenty years, so it’s been a wonderful treat finally to watch it again. Many, many thanks for putting this wonderful programme up on KZbin.

[@neberium]

Cheers Martin! Good to read.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan & Flann O'Brien 3 of the many great storytellers, playrights, tall stories poets from the Emerald Isle who loved to take a drink, sit at t he bar and smoke a cigarette or pipe and chats with the people who passed by. People talked about them all the time when they were alive and will continue to talk about those people forevermore. It will not be long before the saintly Phil Lynott is joined up with those very fine people. Phil had many God-given gifts and been a brilliant storyteller, prophet, poet, singer-songwriter, leader of the gang, man upfront and the greatest rocker of all times and that is a recorded fact

[@edwardmulholland7912]

My uncle taped me a copy of this years ago, I lost it through time. Can’t believe it’s here on KZbin. Wonderful to see it again. Thank you for this.

[@neberium]

You're more than welcome, good to hear!

[@errolkim1334]

KZbin is like the Earth. A lot of shit and a few diamonds.

[@carmelstrickland4616]

Ben,thank you for this,absolutely loved it.

[@patkiernan5556]

Thank you so much for this!!

[@Davidislandlife]

My father played the melodeon Outside at our gate, There were stars in the morning east And they danced to his music. Across the world bogs his melodeon called To Lennons and Callans As I pulled on my trousers in a hurry I knew some strange thing had happened. Outside in the cow-house my mother Made the music of milking, The light of the stable-lamp was a star And the frost of Bethlehem made it twinkle. A water-hen screeched in the bog, Mass-going feet Crunched the wafer-ice on the polt-holes - Somebody wistfully twisted a bellow's wheel. My child-poet picked out the letters On Time's black stone, In silver the wonder of a Christmas townland The winking glitter of a frosty dawn. Cassiopea was over Cassidy's hanging hill. I looked and three whin bushes rode acoss The horizon - the Three Wise Kings. My father played the melodeon, My mother milked the cows And I had a prayer like a white rose pinned On the Virgin Mary's blouse. Patrick Kavanagh

[@cosmicman621]

Slainte🐝🌈

[@markmulholland-writer4415]

important piece of work. fair play for putting it out there.

[@neberium]

Cheers!

[@markalexwhite]

4:54 I grew up in Monkstown and collected glasses in Goggins Lounge in the summer of 1990 🙂

[@kateSullivan3927]

Thanks so much for this upload!

[@PoetryETrain]

Great Channel.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

It is a strange thing that Ireland has produced so many gifted writers, poets and music people, perhaps it was the acute angle that a people perched on the periphery of the great empire of England that produced so much commentary, and ironic truth. A poor folk that were rich beyond the dreams of narrow bureaucrats, I'm not sure yet, but these were at least interesting men.

[@grapefruit531]

Anthony cronin is my grandad on my mums side

[@danielfinn914]

I’m pretty sure the interviewer says, “is that why you’re afraid of Jesuits?” In the beginning.

[@LarryMcLarnon]

What a trio. Their likes will not be seen again. Larry.

[@kevinblanch]

AMAZING VIDEO LOVE IT,, A TRIfecta on a straight 2 dollar BET;;

[@TheReddevil821]

Geniuses. ❤

[@cosmicman621]

@@columbmurray 😂😂😂🌹

[@brianbreen1026]

Playing through the railings with little children whose children have long since died.

[@mikebarnes2746]

I almost feel embarrassed my parents emigrated to Canada they were well educated father a engineer Mother a teacher they thrived regardless and inspired our lot

[@moc7323]

Thanks Ben

[@billbutler7551]

LEGENDS ❤ ❤ ❤

[@errolkim1334]

And I was Vay Vay drunk

[@joehiggs100]

Many thanks, such a shame Brian O'Nolan was so pished.

[@vissitorsteve]

My favorite Irish writer, but to your comment, in what other state are they likely to find him? 😊

[@arfer]

I'm confused if this is an encouragement to drink heavily or not.

[@danielfinn914]

I think it is... I think it is.

[@jaywalkercrew4446]

No, if you choose to then that’s ok.

[@richH1625]

If you're a genius you can have a go at drinking heavily, something might come of it. It might benefit the rest of the world; probably not you much, except to bask in a bit of sunlight. If you're not a genius already,,, probably best to go easy with the drinking. ;)

[@pearsemckiernan]

@@richH1625 rich. You've. Struck. A. Rich. Seam. There. The. Gom. Will. Always. Judge. The. Bright. And. The. Bright. Is. Not. Aware. Of. The. Gom. Quixotic

[@vissitorsteve]

🤣@@richH1625

[@pmacc3557]

Ireland....is Ireland lost for good?

[@finnkdy]

Them men niver died.

[@OndaBoosters]

If it ever existed, then yes. The original Irish were dark skinned.

[@jamesgallacher5865]

May I ask where you found this documentary? I am conducting research into this period and these characters in particular, any information as to where/when it was produced and broadcast would be really helpful?

[@neberium]

Hi, as far as I know it was made in 1991 for the Bee Bee See, I knew Anthony Cronin so that's how I ended up with a copy of the broadcast.

[@jamesgallacher5865]

Ahah fair play, that's very interesting. Cronin is arguably the central figure in my PhD thesis, I had been trying to get him to consent to an interview for years. I was very sorry to hear he had died. Thanks for replying anyway!

[@neberium]

Best of luck with the PhD!

[@culturalfatwa]

Is that why you're afraid of jesuits?