In conversation with Niall Sheridan, Tim O'Keeffe explains his part in having 'Collected Poems' by Patrick Kavanagh published while working for McGibbon & Kee in London.

On hearing poets W.R. Rogers and John Montague recite Kavanagh, O'Keeffe says "...This touched me enormously, this purely spontaneous and unpremeditated affection and admiration for another poet's work. So the next day I made my arrangements to go and meet Mr Kavanagh..."

‘Writer in Profile’ was a weekly series presenting interviews with well-known Irish writers. The first episode was broadcast on 29 October 1968 and featured the writer Sean O’Faolain.

Tim O’Keeffe was instrumental in the publication of much important new work by Irish writers. While working with Hutchinson’s and later with MacGibbon and Kee, O’Keeffe was closely involved with most of the outstanding Irish writers of the time. He prepared the final draft of ‘Borstal Boy’ for publication and shortly after persuaded Hutchinsons to publish ‘The Trusting and the Maimed’, James Plunkett’s collection of short stories. He also suggested that the firm should commission a novel from Plunkett, which came to fruition 10 years later with the publication of ‘Strumpet City’.

Tim O’Keeffe considered his most satisfying achievement to have been the contribution he made towards consolidating the reputations of Patrick Kavanagh and Flann O’Brien.

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