Patrick Kavanagh (21 October 1904 - 30 November 1967) was an Irish poet.

He was born in County Monaghan, the son of a farmer.

He wrote an epic poem about sexual repression of the Irish farmer titled "The Great Hunger."

When The Irish Times compiled a list of most favorite Irish poems in 2000, ten of his poems were in the top fifty, and Kavanagh was rated the second favorite poet behind W. B. Yeats.

One of his poems, On Raglan Road, is best known as a song, that has been performed by Van Morrison, Luke Kelly, Mark Knopfler, Sinéad O'Connor, and many other artists.

" On Raglan Road on an autumn day I met her first and knew

That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;

I saw the danger, yet I walked along the enchanted way,

And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day."

On Raglan Road

" O commemorate me where there is water,

Canal water preferably, so stilly

Greeny at the heart of summer. Brother

Commemorate me thus beautifully."

Lines written on a Seat on the Grand Canal, Dublin

References

• http://www.tcd.ie/English/patrickkavanagh/
• http://www.patrickkavanaghcountry.com/
• http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Poetry/PatKavanagh.html