The incomparable John Kelly returns to RTÉ One this May with five new episodes of The Works Presents, where a quintet of our most inspired and inspirational creative people talk with John on how encounters with art transformed their lives – and in turn became their lives - watch the first episode now, via RTÉ Player.
Guests include novelist Donal Ryan; artist Vera Klute; musician-performer and composer Linda Buckley; multimedia artist Ailbhe Ní Bhriain; and the indomitable composer, performer and musician Gavin Friday.
In conversation, John discovers what drives them to create the works they make.
The series kicks off on Thursday, 4th May with John in conversation with Donal Ryan.
From County Tipperary, Donal is one of our best-known writers – his work now published in over twenty languages. He's a multi-award winner, whose first novel The Spinning Heart – back in 2012 – was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
Six more books followed, including From a Low and Quiet Sea – also longlisted for the Man Booker. His most recent, The Queen of Dirt Island, set in the familiar Ryan territory of Nenagh, is a celebration of love, loyalty and the sheer power of those stories that survive the generations.
Donal now lives in Limerick where he lectures in creative writing at UL.
The Works Presents, Thursdays from 4th May at 11.15pm - watch some classics from The Works Presents archives here.
