Writer John B Keane dies

The writer, John B Keane, has died at his home in Listowel, Co Kerry aged 73.

Keane was born and lived in Listowel, where he ran a bar.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer eight years ago and his condition worsened recently.

He wrote a total of 18 plays as well as 32 works of prose and poetry.

One of his most popular novels, The Field - about the disputed ownership of a piece of land - was turned into a film starring Richard Harris and Brenda Fricker.

Keane did most of his writing in Listowel, where he died overnight, and once said: ‘‘I am never stuck for words - all I have to do is look out of the window.’’

His other well-known works include Sive, which provided Keane with his first break by winning an all-Ireland drama prize in 1959 - after being rejected by Dublin’s Abbey Theatre - and Big Maggie, which enjoyed a run on Broadway in 1982.

Keane’s late brother Eamonn was an actor and the broadcaster Fergal Keane is a nephew.