William Kennedy, b. 1943

Track 1: His background in Tralee, Co. Kerry, early education and his BA in Archaeology and Early Irish History from University College Dublin. Entry to the Cistercian Order in Co. Antrim and, after a short time, leaving to take up a teaching post in a secondary school in Clondalkin, Dublin, where he remained for thirty years. Track 2: His post as a Library Guard in the Old Library in Trinity College Dublin; his role and responsibilities in this post. Track 3: Memories of occupying his mind by composing sonnets during quiet periods in the Library. Track 4: The ability he also perfected during quiet times in the Library: translating the original Latin text of the Book of Kells into English. Demonstrates this skill by reading the day’s page, St John’s Gospel, Chapter 6, v.28-42 in Latin, and translating this into English. Track 5: Memories of his short time in the Cistercian Order and reasons for leaving. Humorous anecdotes about visitors to the Library and the banter which circulated among the guards.