DEATH OF POET AND PHILOSOPHER, JOHN O’DONOHUE
The sudden death has occurred in the South of France of poet and philosopher, John O’Donohue, the author of several books, such as ‘Anam Cara,’ and two collections of poetry. He was 53. Born in Co. Clare, John O’Donohue studied at Maynooth and received his PhD in philosophical theology, based around Hegel, at the beginning of the ‘Nineties from the university of Tubingen. He was also a leading participant in The Burren Action Group. This writer interviewed him and, like many others in Galway, met him from time to time in the streets of that city. His deeply informed intellect was imbued with a sensitive creativity and an awareness of the necessity for the spiritual, imaginative and the intellectual to combine in an understanding of the world. Our sincere sympathies go out to his family.
- Fred Johnston
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January 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Easter Sun Dance - Corcomroe Abbey 1997
(For John)
Fly from us gentle spirit,
Your work is done.
Night is forever day.
Shadow,
Is now sun.
5th January 2008
January 5th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
It is chilling piece of news that blights the Irish landscape early in a new Year..a giant of a man whose gentleness is his most powerful asset
I want to be midful of those most bereft by this sad news
Denis
January 5th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I was greatly saddened to hear of Johns sudden leaving of this earth.Having read all of his books, and Benedictus, over the Christmas I feel I have lost a friend, even though we have never met. May his soul find joy ,beauty, and eternal peace.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
a guiding light is quenched, a sacred Burren voice is silenced
we’ll miss you John O’
January 9th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I was so very sad to read of the death of John his books have touched me very deeply .
I was searching for more of his books when I came across this very sad news. My deepest commiseration to his family and all those that loved and cared about him . Such a loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with him for along time to come. With kindest regards Ruby I horwell
January 10th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
rest in peace, john your work will live on, and continue to touch many people in a world which really needs it… thanks for some fantastic timeless books…
January 12th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
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January 12th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I just feel the world has lost a great gentle and sensitive human being who was full of wisdom, compassion and I was so sad to hear about his sudden death. I have just purchased his new book “Blessings”.
If there was ever a human being more ready and prepared for death, it was John. He has joined the cosmic dance.
I was very disappointed that RTE failed to cover his funeral ( not even a mention of his funeral mass, watched news today no mention)
January 19th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
What an inspiration. What a wonderful man. What a wonderful inspiring mother and family. Keep up the good work, Kate and Peter. What a wonderful tribute to John at Craggagh church.
Ní bheidh a leitheid ann aris. Rest in peace, John. - Marie
January 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
A week after he was returned to the earth, I remember his words and thankfully they will not die.
Rest where you wish John,
Lourda
January 30th, 2008 at 7:42 am
John was truly held together by a deep trust in a guiding, inner wisdom, and in his presence I felt at home before I even got to know him.
I met John before he became famous, when he was working on his Ph.D. in Tuebingen in 1986. We met in the student cafeteria. I was intrigued by his Gaelic accent and the warmth in his voice… and by his wild, furious laughter.
He helped me through some hard times, I proofread his German manuscripts on Hegel. We had Irish whiskey together in his little kitchen in Rottenburg.
So many years later I discovered his books in a California bookstore. I have kept Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes close by ever since.
I was signed up to go to his retreat in Oregon last October. I could not go due to a serious illness. we reconnected and he wrote me such a warm e-mail.
There won’t be another retreat in Oregon in 2008. I felt such regret… but then I turned to Anam Cara and reread those words.
John is not gone. He is very, very near. He is just on the other side.
I feel so deeply grateful and privileged that he was my friend.
Christine
February 4th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I first met John at St. Bridget’s Well in Kildare Town some years ago. When I read Anam Cara I felt that I really had been graced with enlightment and deep nourishment of the spirit. My husband had given me his latest publication Benedictus as a Christmas gift and I was reading it when I heard of his passing. We have lost a wonderful treasure, however, he will be alive to us in his written words. John was a truly HOLY man.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:57 am
John yearned to belong and he longed to be. This earth needs people like John to help us to reconnect. Perhaps on the other side, they needed him more!
It is our great loss and their great gain. I hope they appreciate his wisdom and gentleness.
Anne
February 8th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I first met John in 1992, when I decided, quite unusually, to go to weekday Mass. On holidays from England, I wasn’t feeling quite myself, a bit low, you might say. I sat in the nearly empty local church in Galway, and this tall, gentle man delivered a homily that made me quietly cry. It was as if he could read my face or soul or something. I had never before chosen to go to Mass during the week, and I felt I was meant to attend that day.
I went over to speak to him after Mass to thank him for making me feel so much better. And he gave me a hug and spoke to me for awhile.
I’ll never forget that encounter. I told him I was heading to Aran and he recommended a close friend of his to stop in for a cuppa. Such a wise, spiritual person, I could have listened to him for hours.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I have just returned from 7 weeks in Australia, have been reading Benedictus, the wonderful words from John, deeply saddened to hear of his death. A light is shining for us all in John, his words will be remembered long, my deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I feel both a sadness and a deep sense of gratitude. Thank you John. You are with us always in your generosity and sensitivity. Our journey continues. The world is a better place for your presence.
My sympathies to your family and friends.
His work is done. No more longing.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I watched John speak on the True Lives programme a couple of weeks ago. I was so sad to learn that he had left this world. His inspirational books have left a huge mark on me and I thank God for letting us have him while we did. May he now move with the winds and the birds and the gentle streams.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
His voice would come in at your ear like a wave. His messages seem as constant and natural as those landscapes he loved so much.
I too attended some of his masses several years ago and as a cranky teenager was struck by the simplicity and beauty of his words.
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 am
The world is a far better place for his having been here.
Enjoy your eternal reward, John.
It has been richly earned.
May 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I had no incling…but felt his words on my heart this week. So I searched the web to find a new book of John’s. Somehow his passing isn’t so sore to me, as he so often made the point that death need not cause distance.
It is a beautiful mystery how as an author he drew us near and ushered on, toward the truths above and within. I never knew you, but thank you John for being an author who was anam cara to us all. Jeni
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
My sister is dying with terminal cancer in Ireland right now. I am relying heavily on John’s words to keep me on the straight and narrow. I would be lost without them. Thank you John.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:12 am
I only recently learnt of the passing of John and felt deeply saddened. My sympathy goes to his family and to a world of his readers. My sister in Australia recently told me about John’s life and the positive effect it has had on her. I have since purchased Benedictus and am treasuring this daily in meditation. I never knew John but now, thanks to him, I am able to connect in a way to that small light burning in all of us. Thank you, John.
August 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Does anyone know please where one might purchase a DVD recording of the marvellous TV documentary made about John recently by RTE? (It is not, unfortunately, available from RTE). Mike O’Regan
October 31st, 2008 at 11:23 pm
we all miss John O’Donohue I just post video I made with john poems at this address. if you like to post it on your blog please do
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=d2OPNzAWg9k
“the greatest privileges of a human life is to become midwife to the birth of the soul”
“When the inner senses are dull and blurred, you become a respectable prisoner of a mind able to receive everything except the extraordinary.”
“The greatest friend of the soul is the unknown”
January 6th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I am trying to locate new dvd on life of late john o donoghue. Perhaps you can help. Thanks
Breda
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Have just checked Veritas web page and John’s writings and DVD
are available.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Не часто такое можно увидеть, удивлен.