Jeremiah Joseph Callanan facts for kids

Jeremiah Joseph Callanan (born 1795, died 1829) was an Irish poet. He was also known as James Joseph Callanan. He was born in Cork city, Ireland. He passed away in Lisbon, Portugal, when he was 33 years old.

The Life of Jeremiah Callanan

Jeremiah Callanan first studied to become a Catholic priest at Maynooth College. Later, he studied law at Trinity College, Dublin. While at Trinity College, he won two awards for his poems. However, he decided in 1816 that being a priest was not for him.

He went back to Cork and worked as a tutor, teaching students. He later tried studying law again at Trinity College, Dublin, but he didn't finish. When he ran out of money, he briefly joined the army. Luckily, some friends helped him leave the army soon after.

In 1823, Callanan worked for a few months as an assistant at a school in Cork. The school's owner helped him start writing for a magazine called Blackwood's Magazine. He also wrote for other magazines.

For about six years, until 1829, Jeremiah spent much of his time traveling around Ireland. He loved collecting old songs and stories. He would then rewrite them in English, giving them a new style.

Sadly, his health began to get worse. He hoped a warmer place would help him feel better. So, in early 1829, he moved to Lisbon, Portugal. There, he worked as a tutor for an Irish family. In just a few months, he learned enough Portuguese to translate poems from that language. He also started getting his own writings ready to be published as a book.

However, his health continued to decline. He tried to get strong enough to travel back home to Ireland, but he couldn't. Jeremiah Callanan died on September 19, 1829, at the age of 33. His friends remembered him as someone who knew a lot about Irish legends. They said he was great at using words and expressing feelings. His poems were known for being simple and beautiful. He was especially good at describing nature. His poem about Gougane Barra is very famous in Ireland.

No one knows exactly where his grave is in Lisbon today.

Jeremiah Callanan's great-niece is the famous actress Pauline Collins. She was even nominated for an Academy Award!

Famous Poems by Callanan

One of Jeremiah Callanan's most famous poems is "The Outlaw of Loch Lene." It starts with the line, "O many a day have I made good ale in the glen." This poem, along with "The Convict of Clonmel," are two of his works included in a well-known collection of Irish poetry. Both of these poems were translated by Callanan from the original Irish language.

Books of Poetry

• Recluse of Inchidony, and other Poems. 1830.
• Poems (ed. M.F. McCarthy). 1847.
• The Poems of J. J. Callanan. A New Edition, with Biographical Introduction and Notes