Deasún Breathnach

Deasún Breatnach (2 December 1921 – 3 October 2007) was an Irish journalist, author and activist. He wrote Irish poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and translations.

Early life Deasún Breatnach was born in Rathmines, Dublin, probably in Belgrave Square, on 2 December 1921. He was christened Francis Xavier Desmond Walsh, and was known as "Des". His parents were Gertrude (née Andrews) and Kevin Walsh, a solicitor. He was the eldest child, with two brothers and one sister. His paternal grandfather was also a solicitor and supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell, James J. Walsh, who represented two of the Invincibles found guilty of assassinating Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. His father was a supporter of John Redmond, and served with the British army during World War I in France. Breatnach adopted the Irish form of his name as a young man, Deasún Breatnach. He attended Belvedere College, Dublin, until the death of his father in 1934, after which his mother could no longer afford the tuition and he became a boarder in Newbridge, County Kildare. Breatnach described his father as "his best friend".

Early career He was unable to attend university due to the family's financial situation, and when he left boarding school he joined the Local Defence Force. This force was incorporated in the army for the duration of the Emergency in Ireland during World War II, with Breatnach serving in the 18th Battalion. He rose to the rank of lieutenant, often the officer in charge at the Magazine Fort in the Phoenix Park. He started his writing career when he was asked to write for the defence forces newsletter, The Spearhead, with his first poem, "Adeste fidelis" published in The Irish Times in December 1944. While still serving in the army, he wrote an article defending Irish neutrality for the New York Herald Tribune under the pen name Rex Mac Gall. He wrote film reviews for the newspaper of Ailtirí na hAiséirghe, Aiséirighe, in 1945. his body was donated to medical science.

Selected publications Books The best of the English: a short account of the life and work of the bishop of Kilmore, William Bedell (1971) Chugat an Púca (1994) Galar na bhfocal agus scéalta eile (1999) Gríscíní saillte (2001)

Poetry Dánta amadóra (1998)

Children's books An fáinne Arabach (1960) An dealbh Spáinneach (1962) An buama deireanach (1962) An deachtóir (1963) An gasúr a chaill a ghoile (1984)