The Crane Bag. Book of Irish Studies. Volume One (1977-1981). Preface by Seamus Heaney. Dublin: Blackwater Press, 1982. Volume Two (1982-1985). Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 1985.  A nice bright set in publisher’s dust jackets.

Volume One with a ALS by Seamus Heaney dated December 1982 (to front pastedown) requesting a review on the publication. Volume two, Signed by Richard Kearney.

The complete run of seventeen issue in book form. 

Published twice a year between 1977 and 1985, The Crane Bag was an influential Irish literary and cultural journal that explored themes related to Irish identity, history, politics, and literature. Edited by Richard Kearney and Mark Patrick Hederman, it featured contributions from prominent Irish writers, poets, and intellectuals, including Seamus Heaney, John Montague, and Eavan Boland. The journal was known for its interdisciplinary approach, blending philosophy, literature, and cultural criticism, and for its role in fostering debates about Ireland’s place in the modern world.

The title “Crane Bag” refers to a mythical Irish symbol of wisdom and cultural heritage.