The Pincer Jaws of Heaven

An award winning film commissioned by Monaghan County Council to celebrate the poetry of Patrick Kavanagh and the landscape that inspired his craft.

It features stunning readings of favourites such as Raglan Road, A Christmas Childhood and Stony Grey Soil amongst others.

The Patrick Kavanagh Centre is located in a deconsecrated church in Inniskeen, County Monaghan which was re-opened in July 2020 following a €1.2 million restoration and development of a new visitor experience and event space.

Patrick Kavanagh, one of Ireland’s greatest poets, was born here in Inniskeen in 1904. He died in 1967 and is buried in the adjoining graveyard.

The exhibition centrepiece is a triple-projection titled ‘The Pincer Jaws of Heaven’, designed to “envelop visitors with a cinematic flying journey”, and connect them with the raw power of Kavanagh’s words and the landscapes that inspired them.

Key poetic works are read by Kavanagh, plus an eclectic selection of friends and fellow poets including Oliver Callan, Evelyn Conlon and John McArdle.

This 15 minute short film was recently awarded the prestigious European Heritage in Motion award for 2020 in the best Film & Video category.

The visitor experience at the Patrick Kavanagh Centre honours his life, his writing, and his continuing legacy. Kavanagh’s universal themes of Soul, Love, Beauty, Nature and God are timeless and will resonate in the hearts of readers of all ages for many generations to come.