# 227. John Heron: 43 Years in the Gaeltacht

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/227-john-heron-43-years-in-the-gaeltacht
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/227-john-heron-43-years-in-the-gaeltacht.md
Podcast: [The Ireland Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-ireland-podcast-6592574)
Published: 2026-07-01T00:09:18+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-ireland-podcast/episodes/227-john-heron-43-years-in-the-gaeltacht
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64e340adddadb00012365278/e/6a445aaf06fb5d326d55f99d/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-ireland-podcast-6592574/episodes/227-john-heron-43-years-in-the-gaeltacht
Duration seconds: 3915

## Resource

As he approaches his 87th birthday, John Heron joins his son, Fender Jackson, for a deeply personal conversation about a lifetime of learning, community and his 42 consecutive years attending Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille. John reflects on discovering the Irish language, the friendships that have lasted decades, dancing with Mary McAleese, the vision of Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, and why he believes anyone who spends a fortnight in Donegal with Oideas Gael will leave speaking Irish. Best known to many as co-founder of Heron Bros, this conversation instead reveals the man behind the business: a lifelong learner whose love of language, music and people has shaped more than four decades of summers in the Donegal Gaeltacht. A warm and affectionate conversation that celebrates Oideas Gael, the Irish language and the power of preserving family stories for future generations. Relevant Links https://www.oideasgael.ie/ https://youtu.be/emdJYEfbhBY https://www.irishnews.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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