ACHILL ORAL HISTORIES

John F Deane, Poet

John F Deane is a poet and Founder of Poetry Ireland. John was born in Bunacurry, Achill.  collection 'Achill The Island' published in 2009 is a tribute to the majesty and magic of Achill Island. 

PART 1: First memory; a child in Bunnacurry; exploring nature in Achill.

To read a transcript of Part 1 John F Deane's interview with us, click here

PART 2: Leaving Achill For Mungret College, Limerick; father’s love of Russian literature  Heinrich Böll’s work; playing Tatars and the Cossacks as a boy.

To read a transcript of Part 2 John F Deane's interview with us, click here

PART 3: Enduring Importance of Catholic faith in John’s poetry; Kimmage Manor and Earlsfort Terrace University College Dublin; how coalescence of Gerard Manly Hopkins and La Messe Sur Le Monde influenced John’s poetry.

To read a transcript of Part 3 John F Deane's interview with us, click here.

PART 4: On Keem Beach; perilous episode on the Cathedral Cliffs; as a secondary school teacher, Dublin; first published poem; working with The Chieftans; 'F' in John F Deane; enduring influence of Achill on John's poetry. 

To read a transcript of Part 4 John F Deane's interview with us, click here.

PART 5: John F Deane reads his poem "Slievemore - The Abandoned Villages" for Achill Oral Histories

To read a transcript of Part 5 John F Deane's including the poem'Slievemore - The Abandoned Village, click here..