Patrick Kavanagh Centre facts for kids
The Patrick Kavanagh Centre is a special place in Inniskeen, County Monaghan, Ireland. It celebrates the life and work of Patrick Kavanagh. He was a very important Irish poet from the 1900s. Patrick Kavanagh was born in Inniskeen, in a place called Mucker. The centre is in an old church building, St. Mary's Church, which was built in 1820. Patrick Kavanagh and his wife are buried in the churchyard next door. The Inniskeen Enterprise Development Group created the centre. President Mary Robinson officially opened it in 1994. The centre had a big update costing €1 million and reopened in July 2020.
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Centre History
In 1994, Mary Robinson, who was the President of Ireland, opened the Patrick Kavanagh Centre. She said that people should remember Kavanagh for his strong and meaningful poems.
In 2004, President Mary McAleese visited the centre. She placed a wreath on Patrick Kavanagh's grave. This visit was part of the celebrations for 100 years since Kavanagh was born. She had also visited the centre in 1998.
What to See at the Centre
The centre has many interesting displays about Patrick Kavanagh's life. You can also learn about the history of the area around Inniskeen. There is a special model that shows the local landscape. Another model helps you understand Kavanagh's poem, "A Christmas Childhood."
You can see paintings and information boards about the poet. The hand press used by Peter Kavanagh is also on display. It is on loan from University College Dublin. Patrick Kavanagh's death mask is there too. Many other items are shown, like letters and the font where Kavanagh was baptised.
Audio-Visual Theatre
The centre has a theatre with 60 seats. Here, you can watch films about Patrick Kavanagh. One film is called "Self Portrait." It is a half-hour talk by the poet himself, recorded in 1962.
Tours of Kavanagh Country
The centre offers tours of "Kavanagh Country." These tours take you to many local places linked to the poet and his writings. There is also a special guide for the Patrick Kavanagh Trail.
The trail includes places you can visit or see from the road. Some of these are:
- Norman Notte & Augustinian Monastery Folk Museum & Round Tower
- Railway Bridge
- Church of Mary Mother of Mercy
- Dance Hall at Mullaghinsha
- Billy Brennan's Barn
- Rocksavage Fort & The Triangular Field
- Slieve Gullion View
- Drumcattan Church
- Rocksavage Estate
- Kednaminsha National School
- Mc Enteggarts' Boarding House
- House of The Wake
- Cassidy's Hanging Hill
- The Kavanagh Homestead
The Monaghan Way is a walking path that starts from the centre. It goes across the countryside to Castleblayney. This path follows the Fane river and an old railway line.
Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award
The centre works with the Patrick Kavanagh Society to give out an award each year. This award is called the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award. It is given to a poet for a collection of poems that has not been published yet.
Patrick Kavanagh Weekend
Every year, the Patrick Kavanagh Weekend takes place at the centre. It happens on the last weekend in November. During this weekend, there are talks, music, and drama performances. Famous speakers have included Seamus Heaney, Brendan Kennelly, and Theo Dorgan.
