Death of Poet and Philosopher O'Donoghue

[Guest guest]

O'Donoghue passed away over the Holidays. A bright light has left this

world. Here is

the RTE (Radio Telefis Eiren) report:

Death of poet and philosopher O'Donoghue

Friday, 4 January 2008 22:55

The death has taken place of the poet and philosopher O'Donoghue.

He died suddenly while on holiday in France. He was 53.

The former priest was best known for his best selling book on Celtic

spirituality, Anam

Cara. His other works include Beauty and Eternal Echoes.

He had degrees in philosophy and English literature and was awarded a PhD in

philosophical theology from the University of Tubingen in 1990.

His dissertation developed a new concept of person through a re-interpretation

of the

philosophy of Hegel.

Mr O'Donoghue lived in a cottage in the west of Ireland and spoke Irish as his

native

language.

He was an active campaigner against the proposed Burren interpretative centre.

He was a guest on n Finucane late last year, discussing his most recent

book,

Benedictus: A Book Of Blessings. listen here

<http://dynamic.rte.ie/quickaxs/209-rte-

marianfinucane-2007-11-17.smil>

His latest book, `Benedictus', is a wonderful book of blessings for a diversity

of human

experiences. One of them, `A New Year Blessing', is apt for the week that's in

it.

A New Year Blessing

BEANNACHT

On the day when

The weight deadens

On your shoulders

And you stumble,

May the clay dance

To balance you.

And when your eyes

Freeze behind

The grey window

And the ghost of loss

Gets into you,

May a flock of colours

Indigo, red, green

And azure blue,

Come to awaken in you

A meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays

In the currach of thought

And a stain of ocean

Blackens beneath you,

May there come across the waters

A path of yellow moonlight

To bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,

May the clarity of light be yours,

May the fluency of the ocean be yours,

May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow

Wind work these words

Of love around you,

An invisible cloak

To mind your life.

— O'Donohue

in the dance,

Frances