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Thomas Kinsella was born in Inchicore in 1928. He joined the Civil Service when he was 18, eventually going on to work in the Department Of Finance and it was around this time that he started to write. His first collection of poems was called simply, “Poems” and was published in 1956. His book of poetry “Another September”, won him the Guinness Poetry Award.
 
He became a professor of English at Temple University in Philadelphia in 1970. He lived there for a year until he returned home with his family. However, he did set up a programme in Irish Studies there which meant that he would spend half his year there and half his year in Dublin.
In 1972, he set up the Peppercanister Press to publish his poetry. He has spent a lot of his career translating old Irish literature, including the great “Tain Bo Cuailgne” in 1969. He now lives in County Wicklow.

Here is some brief information about the poetry of Thomas Kinsella that is on your course.

There is more detailed information at the bottom of this page.

Thinking Of  Mr. D.

In this poem, Kinsella talks about a man he used to see drinking in a pub. The poem is interesting because things we don’t find out about the man for certain.

 Dick King.

Here, Kinsella writes about an old neighbour of his who he was very close to. The first part of the poem is about the relationship he had with him and the second part is about the man himself.

 Mirror In February.

Kinsella gets up out of bed one morning and sees himself in the mirror. He realizes that he’s not young anymore.

Chrysalides.

This poem is about a young couple very much in love who go on a cycling holiday. Everything is very happy but at the end of the poem, the poet seems to be saying that life does not always stay this good.

 from Glenmacnass: VI  Littlebody.

This poem is about someone catching a leprechaun. Up a hill, the leprechaun is playing music. The leprechaun leaves his money for he speaker to take. However, the speaker leaves the money for him.

 Tear.

This poem is about Kinsella as a boy going to see his sick grandmother. He also ends up thinking about his younger sister Agnes.

 Hen Woman.

The speaker watches a woman pick up a hen who is about to lay an egg. It falls and breaks; she laughs and shrugs it off.

His Father’s Hands.

Kinsella is having an argument with his father. His father’s pointing finger reminds him of his grandfather so he is moved to think about his family’s history.

 from Settings: Model School, Inchicore.

Kinsella here remembers what school was like for him.

 From The Familiar VII.

In this poem, Kinsella writes about getting out of bed early and making breakfast for himself and someone he loves.