Lest we forget

John O’Donohue (1956–2008) was an Irish poet and philosopher best known for writing about spirituality, beauty, landscape, death and the inner life.

He grew up in County Clare, and the austere landscape of the Burren strongly shaped his work. He studied philosophy and theology, including a doctorate on Hegel, and later left the priesthood to write and lecture.

His best-known book is Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom (1997). Anam cara roughly means “soul friend” in Irish.