Rita Kelly

Life
1953- [Rita E. Kelly]; b. Ballinasloe, Co. Galway; m. Eoghan Ó Tuairisc, 1972 [q.v.], with whom she issued Dialann sa Díseart (1981), poetry; also published An Bealach Eadóigh (1984), poems; and Frau Luther (1984), a play; publ. The Whispering Arch and Other Stories (Arlen 1986), and brought it to the Irish Stand at the Hamburg Book Fair, 1987 - being a fluent German speaker; issued Farewell/Beir Beannacht (1990), a poetry collection. OCIL

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Works
Poetry
  • with Eoghan O Tuairisc, Dialann sa Díseart (BAC: Coisceim 1981), [8], 48pp., trans. as Travelling West (2000).
  • An Bealach Éadóigh (BAC: Coisceim 1984), 47pp.
  • Farewell/Beir Beannacht (Dublin: Attic Press 1990), 95pp.
  • Turas go Bun na Spéire: Rogha Dánta is Nua Dhánta, sel. by Máirín Nic Eoin (Cló lar-Chonnachta 2009), 115pp.
Drama
  • Frau Luther (1984).
Fiction
  • The Whispering Arch and Other Stories (Dublin: Arlen House 1986), 119pp. [contents].
  • Sweeping Beauties: Fairytales for Feminists (Dublin: Attic [1989]), 64pp., ill.

Miscellaneous
  • ed., Cavan Anthology (Cavan Co. Council 2000), iv, 134pp.
  • with Pauline Bewick, Kelly reads Bewick (Galway: Arlen House 2001) [1 v., unpag., col. ill., 42 cm.]

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Bibliographical details
The Whispering Arch and Other Stories (Dublin: Arlen House 1986), 119pp. CONTENTS: The conifers; Soundtracks; Trousseau; Opening Night; The Whispering Arch; En famille; The Intruders; The Cobweb Curtain; Midland; Miss Rountree’s Poor Chickens.]

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Commentary
Colin Graham, reviewing Travelling West by Rita Kelly, with works of Peter Sirr and David Wheatley, writes: ‘[Rita Kelly] is at her best when making the most of the anecdotal. She is disarmingly endearing and perceptive in recounting her experiences and friendships. Too at times too close to naivity and over-simplification, she does have an ear for a finely tuned line and an eye for detail which usually saves her. [...] Rita Kelly’s poetry is gently teasing and humanely open.’ (Available at The Irish Times - online; access date unrecorded.)

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References
Louise deSalvo, Kathleen Walsh D‘Arcy & Katherine Hogan, eds., Territories of the Voice: Contemporary Stories by Irish Women Writers (Boston: Beacon Press 1989), incls. “The Intruders”, pp.86-92.

An Léitheoir (Earrach [Feb.] 2009) [Foras na Gaeilge pub. notices with Books Ireland], lists Turas go Bun na Spéire, with comment: ‘Rita Kelly has poems of many kinds, some to make your heart thump and bring tears to your eyes, powerful poems indeed.’

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