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Irish author and judge (1895–1967) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth Sheils Reddin (born John Kenneth Sheils Reddin; 1895 – 17 August 1967[1]) known by the pen name Kenneth Sarr, was an Irish author and judge.[2][3][4]
Reddin was born in Dublin to John [J. J.] and Annie Reddin.[4] He attended Belvedere College, Clongowes Wood College, and from 1910 Scoil Éanna,[5] where Thomas McDonagh and Patrick Pearse were formative influences.[6] His first pseudonym was Kenneth Esser (from "Kenneth S. R.") later shortened to Kenneth Sarr.[7] He joined the Irish Volunteers and was interned after the Easter Rising.[4] Literary figures often met at J.J. Reddin's house and Kenneth was associated with the Irish Theatre Company in Hardwicke Street, where his brothers Kerry and Norman acted.[8] He attended University College Dublin and qualified as a solicitor.[3] He was a member of the United Arts Club[9] and sometime President of the Irish PEN Club.[10] He visited James Joyce in Paris several times, first with a gift of Olhausen's black pudding, later at a PEN congress.[11][12] Joyce, during his father's final illness, telegraphed Reddin's brother Dr Kerry Reddin about his treatment.[13][14]
Reddin supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty and his father's house in Artane was burned in the Irish Civil War.[15] In 1922 he was appointed a District Court judge based in Mullingar,[4] later moving to the Newbridge[16] and then Dublin districts.[17] In court he wore what Terry De Valera called "his self-designed headdress like a black biretta".[18] As well as writing plays and novels, he collected humorous anecdotes from his judicial work intended for a book to be called Laughter in My Court.[19] In 1941 he objected to an article in PEN's magazine which he said was "propaganda, attacking the neutrality of Eire, and that all we wanted was to be left alone".[20] In 1948, Erina Brady appointed him President of her short-lived Dublin Dance Theatre Club.[21]
He retired from the bench on 19 March 1965.[17]
His papers are held by the Kenneth Spencer Research Library at the University of Kansas.[22]
Work | Year | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
The Changeling | 1920 | Play | A two-act allegory produced by the Irish Theatre Company.[7] The premiere was postponed a week from Bloody Sunday and the audience was "meagre" due to the curfew then in force.[23] |
"In a Sinn Fein Court" | 1922 | Article | In The Belvederian[24] |
The Passing | 1924 | Play | Subtitled "A tragedy in one act". Produced by the Abbey Theatre on 9 December 1924.[25][6][5] Won the drama prize at the 1924 Tailteann Games.[26][27] Its subject matter, a prostitute with an idiot son, was condemned by some viewers.[27][26] |
Old Mag | 1924 | Play | Subtitled "A Christmas play in one act". Produced by the Abbey Theatre on 22 December 1924.[26][6] |
The white bolle-trie | 1927 | Novel | Subtitled "A wonder story". A children's story.[28] |
Somewhere To The Sea | 1936 | Novel | A roman a clef set around the truce ending the Irish War of Independence.[2][9] |
Another Shore | 1945 | Novel | adapted in 1948 into an Ealing comedy of the same name.[6] Published in the United States as Young man with a dream. |
"A Man called Pearse" | 1945 | Article | In Studies.[29] |
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