NOVELIST Edna O'Brien and poet Brendan Kennelly together created an exciting theatrical experience as they celebrated the first Gus Martin Memorial Day at KISS 96 in the presence of his widow, Claire.
On a hot Saturday afternoon in Tralee, a large attendance exchanged sunshine for the darkness of a theatre. The drama of voice took over Siamsa Tire Theatre.
The stone walled theatre itself is an amazing building. Squat, powerful and taking its design from the ancient ring forts, it is also reminiscent of the neolithic burial grounds - Newgrange in particular. The various roofs provide a clochan like effect.
Built in 1991 and deliberately intended to reflect Ireland's past, there is a magisterial defiance about the building which sits at one end of a large park. A row of crows stood along the wall, peering at the people arriving for the reading. Inside, another world existed. The archaeological and architectural gave way to the visual arts and drama.
Reading from her powerful new novel, Down By The River, Edna O'Brien evoked the horror of a human nightmare: child sex abuse within a family. Her delivery - dramatic, incantatory - evoked an unnervingly exact atmosphere of nature in upheaval, just as her portrayal of Ireland has frequently chronicled the unsettling. White faced under the lights, she mesmerised her listeners with the extracts.
O'Brien has always had a compelling, theatrical presence. Often referred to as a Cassandra figure it was Gus Martin who described her as a Helen of Troy. When asked where her writing comes from, O'Brien replied, "desperation". She continued: "Inspiration usually comes from some alarming, visceral experience". Words "have to be picked with the point of a sword".
Brendan Kennelly's performance was a contrast in style but no less theatrical. Reading from his epic work Cromwell, Prof Kennelly drew on the themes of religion, rites, vision and division. History shaped his selections. For him Gus Martin was "a lover of life, of literature, of people".
As a Kerryman, does he feel at home in Tralee? "No, I'm still a bit nervous of the place. It's a town." His attitude is shaped by memories of his footballing youth: "You'd come in to play a match in Tralee and the lads here were so equipped with wicked townie wit, before you had one kick of a ball, you felt crucified."
Kennelly's reading proved characteristically energetic. Delighted with the audience response, he sat down with the happiness of a schoolboy who had done well - and knew it. While the people approached Kennelly, they were more intimidated by the O'Brien myth.
One woman walked up to Kennelly and announced: "I always said if I ever saw you, I'd go up and shake your hand." She did. Kennelly blushed but the woman's two friends were impressed.
Another woman had walked by, before turning around to comment with businesslike graciousness to Kennelly: "Yes, you really are wonderful".
KENNELLY had the popular vote, whereas O'Brien is an exotic, something of n unsettling enigma. Still personifying Clarke's lines: "Men that had seen her/ Drank Deep and were silent./ The women were speaking/ Wherever she went - As a bell that is rung/ Or a wonder told shyly,/ And O she was the Sunday/ In every week", she seemed both confident and nervous; ethereal yet earthy.
However, when addressing the role of the writer she spoke most emphatically: "A writer does not have to answer to a boss, or a public relations person. A writer is free to tell us what he or she sees." She said: "There are lines which express this, I don't know who wrote them, but swift as the lightning in the collied dark", I think they capture what it is to be a writer.
O'Brien the reader had advice for her audience: "Read everything: the Russians, the French, the Elizabethan English. There is so much to literature." Flowers for Edna, but none for Brendan who accepted this manfully.
KISS Director Peter Van be Kamp felt the joint reading with its musical interlude had "done Gus proud, it was like a high Mass".
Gus Martin's son Aengus paid a short tribute to his father, quoting Joyce: "Old father, old artificer. Stand by me now and ever in good stead."
Now in its third year, the two week long KISS (the Kerry International Summer School of Living Irish Authors), is somewhat different to other summer schools and literary festivals. It co exists within the busy life of Tralee, but does not take over. It is a strong academic programme. One of last week's highlights was Professor Jose Lanters's analysis of the expression of personal religion as instinctive salvation in the works of Tom Murphy and Brian Friel.
This week Irish drama again comes under scrutiny as does shorter Irish fiction, while Padraic Mas Fhearghusa will be discussing the younger Irish language poets.
Meanwhile beds and beds of roses of all colours are blooming in a nearby garden. What is it about roses and Tralee?
