in 1949 kavanagh began to write a monthly "diary" for "envoy", a literary publication founded by john ryan, who became a lifelong friend and benefactor. the "envoy"'s offices were at 39 grafton street, but most of the journal's business was conducted in a nearby pub, mcdaid's, which kavanagh subsequently adopted as his local. through "envoy" he came into contact with a circle of young artists and intellectuals including anthony cronin, patrick swift, john jordan and the sculptor desmond macnamara, whose bust of kavanagh is in the irish national writers museum. kavanagh often referred to these times as the period of his "poetic rebirth".