Des Walsh

Desmond Walsh stands as a prominent figure in Newfoundland’s cultural landscape, celebrated for his contributions as a poet, screenwriter, playwright, and musician. He has authored six volumes of poetry, with his most renowned work, *Love and Savagery*, which was turned into a feature film by Morag Films in 2009. This adaptation coincided with the release of the book’s second edition by Talonbooks.

In addition to his poetry, Walsh has made significant strides in television and theater. He served as playwright-in-residence at the Playwright’s Workshop in Montreal in 2001 and at Grenfell College, Memorial University, in 2003. His screenwriting accolades include the adaptation of Bernice Morgan’s *Random Passage* and *Waiting for Time*, which premiered on CBC in 2002. He expressed deep reverence for Morgan’s narratives, describing them as “sacred material” reflective of the community's story. Alongside collaborators John Smith and Sam Grana, he co-created the highly acclaimed miniseries *The Boys of St. Vincent*, which garnered multiple awards, including a Gemini and a New York Festival Award, as well as recognition at the Cannes International TV Festival for Best Series.

Despite leaving school at the tenth grade, Walsh has made a lasting impact on the arts. He currently splits his time between New Bonaventure, Trinity Bay, and St. John’s, continuing to enrich the cultural dialogue of his beloved Newfoundland.