St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, where we celebrate all things Irish. I’ve been revisiting the work of one of my favourite Irish writers, the poet and mystic, John O’Donohue, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 52.

I first discovered O’Donohue’s writings only a few weeks after his death, as I was planning my first visit to Ireland with my sister. Before the trip, I read two of his books, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom, and Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong.

In his writings, I found a kindred spirit.

O’Donohue was formerly a Catholic priest with a strong core of Celtic spirituality, growing up as he did in Western Ireland. His writing is poetic and wise. Two other books I’ve enjoyed since then are Beauty: The Invisible Embrace and To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings. This second book offers blessings in the form of prayers or poems which address real-life situations. Some examples include a blessing for a mother-to-be, for one who is exhausted, for a time of necessary decision, and for love in a time of conflict. They get right to the heart of the situation.

“The Celtic mind was not burdened by dualism. It did not separate what belongs together. The Celtic imagination articulates the inner friendship that embraces Nature, divinity, underworld, and human world as one. The dualism that separates the visible from the invisible, time from eternity, the human from the divine, was totally alien to them.” ~ Anam Cara

The Burren

While visiting Ireland, my sister and I experienced the rugged Western Ireland coast that John O’Donohue loved so passionately. I was enthralled with the Burren in County Clare, a national park area known for its ancient limestone rock formations.

Here are a few books and other resources you might want to check out.

1. If you’d like to learn more about John O’Donohue, visit his website or listen to this On Being interview with Krista Tippett. Before my trip in 2008, I read Anam Cara and Eternal Echoes. Here’s a link to O’Donohue’s website, where you can watch a short video of John on the western coast. I love listening to the lilt of his voice.

2. Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly – This is a wonderful and historical novel about a family from western Ireland who leave their home during the potato famine and settle in mid-1800’s Chicago. It’s loosely based upon the author’s own ancestors.

3. Stones of Aran: Pilgrimage – I recommend this book if you plan to visit the Aran Islands during your trip to Ireland.

4. The Celtic Way of Seeing: Meditations on the Irish Spirit Wheel – For the mythology of Ireland, this is a fascinating look at the symbolism of the four directions and the circle for the Irish people.

** Books mentioned have Amazon or Bookshop affiliate links, meaning I make a few cents if you purchase through my link. I only recommend books that I’ve read.