Writer and painter John Ryan and Kavanagh's brother Peter reflect on the poet's belief that he was reborn as a poet on the banks of the canal.

Paul Durcan reads from 'Canal Bank Walk' by Patrick Kavanagh.

"..He had some mystical experience where he realised that the important thing was to put no importance on anything..." (John Ryan)

This was a God-like revelation for Kavanagh.

'Gentle Tiger' marks the twentieth anniversary of the death of poet and novelist, Patrick Kavanagh. 'Gentle Tiger' is a documentary in which his widow Katherine, brother Peter, neighbours and friends put their memories of Patrick Kavanagh on record. Poets George Barker, Séamus Heaney and Paul Durcan, Professors Denis Donoghue and Brendan Kennelly are among the contributors.

The documentary includes photographs and documents from the Kavanagh Archive in UCD, archive material from Adrian Cronin's film of Patrick Kavanagh, and footage taken by John Ryan, on Bloomsday 1954.

'Gentle Tiger' was produced by Tom McCardle and was broadcast on 30 November 1987.

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