The seventh Brendan Kennelly Summer Festival in his home town of Ballylongford , Co Kerry, was without its hero - the poet himself - this weekend. He was on a lecture engagement in Boston.

However, the absence of the loquacious Kerry writer did not stop the liquid flow of words in the elegant north Kerry town on the Shannon estuary.

A packed programme of poetry, drama and storytelling workshops, along with lectures and walks drew the literary and perhaps not so literary to the festival honouring small towns as well as the much-loved local poet, who draws much of his inspiration from his boyhood home.

Former world champion runner and chief executive of the Irish Sports Council John Treacy, might not have been the first person to spring to mind to perform the official opening, according to committee member Gerard McDaniel.

"This year's theme is heroes and legends. John's first major win in the world cross country in 1978 and his subsequent successes qualify him as a hero and a legend," he said.

McDaniel added that it was unusual to have a festival honouring a living poet. "He's probably one of the few living people around being commemorated. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't do it while he is alive to enjoy it."

Treacy's speech on the highs and lows of running resonated deeply with the poets. To be a great runner, you needed self belief, discipline and to be able to handle pain, Treacy said.

Winner of the poetry prize Jim Maguire appreciated his remarks.

"The poets among us were laughing," he said. "We go through the same. It was very appropriate."

Maguire (45) is the second Wexford person to win the €1,500 top prize at the Ballylongford poetry festival in its short history (Margaret Galvin won it in 2003).

He turned to writing late, while working for many years as an industrial development officer in South Korea. He completed a master's degree under Kennelly at Trinity and now teaches in community arts and adult education in Wexford. His 30-line poem, The Music Room, was chosen from among dozens of entries.

To have one's work validated by someone of the stature of poet Paddy Bushe (one of the judges) was hugely important, Maguire remarked. He has won a number of prestigious competitions in the last five years including Scríobh and in RTÉ's Rattlebag.

Festivals like Ballylongford were "vitally important" for poets, he added. "We live in an age that doesn't always listen to the quiet voice. These festivals give a voice that is not otherwise heard. It can be a lonely business writing poetry, but you wouldn't want to take it too seriously."

The weekend also heard from Ann McCabe, widow of Ballylongford native Det Garda Jerry McCabe, shot dead by the IRA in Adare in 1996.