John Lane, who passed away in 1993, is considered by many to be one of Cork's most distinguished poets. Born in 1911, he was educated at Carrigaline Primary School. Upon leaving school, he was a friend and contemporary of the writer Frank O'Connor.
He emigrated to England in 1939 and while there wrote one of his most outstanding poems, 'Letter From The Past', a vivid description of the London blitz. He lived close to St. Ranogs Well in Carrigaline, in a cottage he built himself upon his return to Ireland.
It was a spring afternoon in 1992, when I took this photo of him as we talked for a few hours in connection with an article for the local Community Newsletter. I found him to be a gentle, unassuming man.
He told me, 'I just like to keep at it and I'm happy when people read my work'.