John B. Keane

John B. Keane was an Irish playwright, novelist and essayist from Listowel, County Kerry. He wrote over 30 plays, many of which were performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and adapted for film and television. He also published several novels, short stories and collections of letters and essays. His works often reflected the social and cultural issues of rural Ireland, such as emigration, poverty, marriage, land disputes and violence. He was also known for his humour and wit, and his pub in Listowel was a popular meeting place for writers and artists. He received many awards and honours for his contribution to Irish literature and culture, including the Irish PEN Award in 1999. He died in 2002 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and beloved Irish writers of the 20th century.