John Reade 1837-1919

Drumhariff Hill.
Short is the way from friend to friend.
The quiet village lies below,
And leading to my journey’s end
The little river windeth slow.
Like yesterday it seems, and yet
I meet few faces that I know;
It is so long, then, since I crossed
Drumhariff hill to Pettigo.

Although born in Ballyshannon, John Reade’s parents, Joseph Reade and Mary Smyth came from Pettigo. He emigrated to Canada in 1856 where he became one of the best known Canadian poets of the later half of the 19th century. At his death he was described as “The Dean of Canadian Literature.” Hebecame general editor of the Montreal Gazette and held this position for the rest of his life. In 1870 he published a much acclaimed volume of verse entitled “The Prophecy of Merlin and other Poems”. This volume made his name in Canada. He was a wonderful linguist and translated poetry from Latin, Greek, Italian and French. He died unmarried and is buried in Montreal. John Reade took a keen interest in Canadian politics and fervently supported the idea of Canadian Confederation.