The Crumpled Letter beneath the cherry tree

Audio: The Cherry Blossom Tales, by Anna King. Photo: Brooke Coleman of St. Nathy’s College is one of the students who will bring the story of Anne Deane to life over the coming weeks.

The Crumpled Letter Beneath the Cherry Tree is a short fictional tale (audio above) inspired by real events and imagined conversations between Anne Deane and Michael Davitt.

This piece is part of ‘The Cherry Blossom Tales’, an immersive creative non-fiction project created in collaboration with St. Nathy’s College. Rooted in Dillon’s Garden in Ballaghaderreen, the project weaves together storytelling, local history, folklore, and community memory.

A vignette from ‘The Cherry Blossom Tales’, performed by Brooke Coleman, Henry Black, Jack Cummins and Oisín Llewellyn. Directed by Aaron Fox.

Info COMING SOON…

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Anne Deane and Michael Davitt. Straide.

Anne Deane is laid to rest near Michael Davitt’s grave at Straide Abbey, in one of Ireland’s finest medieval tombs. Her cousin, John Dillon (former Member of Parliament for East Mayo) commissioned her headstone, which was designed by renowned sculptor William Pearse, brother of Padraig Pearse.

This project is funded by Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme 2025.