‘The Grauballe Man’ is one of Heaney’s Bog Poems. He compares the barbaric treatment of the bog bodies to violence during the Troubles. He would have revelled in the recent bog body discovery near Bellaghy, Co. Derry!
Image: The Bog of Allen by Richie Stokes is in the exhibition.

Our monthly book club is on today at 1pm. Even if you haven't read the collection, you are welcome to come along and listen in.

It was a delight to have your students visit!

It's #PoetryDayIRL
In 2015, 'Clearances 3' by Seamus Heaney was voted Ireland's favourite poem of the last 100 years!
If you visit the exhibition, look out for an early draft of the poem on display. it has a different title and different opening line to the finished poem.

Not long to go until the #CONULconf in Belfast in May. Book your spot to hear our keynote speakers, Dr Pauline McBride and Tony Ageh, as they discuss Libraries as Changemakers. Find out more on our website: CONUL Conference – CONUL Annual Conference

We are sorry to hear of Helen Vendler's passing. Vendler was a passionate poetry critic and a dear friend of Seamus Heaney. Heaney dedicated his 9th collection of poetry, 'The Spirit Level' to her.

Today we’re looking at ‘Shelf Life 6 A Snowshoe’!

In the poem, Heaney describes a poetic charge overtaking him before inspiration ends until eventually morning approaches and his inspiration is sparked again.

Join our chat about Station Island at our online book club on Friday!

The theme of today’s Earth Day is Planet vs Plastics so Heaney’s poem ‘An Ulster Twilight’ stands out.
In the poem, a local carpenter is handcrafting a wooden toy battleship for a young Heaney. In Stepping Stones, we hear his sons were getting shop-bought Action men for Christmas

Tune in to RTÉ One tomorrow evening at 6:30 pm

'Casualty' is about Louis O' Neill, a regular at Heaney's father-in-law's pub. The pub was closed during a curfew to mark the Bloody Sunday funerals. O'Neill decided to go to a different pub that secretly stayed open. That night, the pub was bombed and he died in the explosion.

Seamus Heaney was born #OTD in 1939. To mark what would have been his 85th, we pass on some of the nice messages visitors to the exhibition have left for Seamus.
Just as Seamus always remembered those who had gone before him, so shall we remember Seamus.

The newly created PEN Heaney Prize will be awarded to a British or Irish poet of 'outstanding literary merit that engages with the impact of cultural or political events on human conditions or relationships'. This will enhance his legacy for years to come. rte.ie/news/ireland/2…

An exciting announcement from Estate of Seamus Heaney. The prize will recognise a single volume of poetry by one author, published in the UK or Ireland, of outstanding literary merit that engages with the impact of cultural or political events on human conditions or relationships.

It's fantastic to see that our travelling banner exhibition is now at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts at Emory University in Atlanta. The exhibition is open 9 am - 6 pm until April 14th.
news.emory.edu/stories/2024/0…

With today being the actual anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement #OnThisDay in 1998, we are reflecting on Seamus Heaney’s cultural influence during the Troubles, particularly as a director of the Field Day Theatre Company, which was founded in Derry in 1980.

Sounds like a great plan to us!

In this poem, Heaney describes the grandeur of a bookcase and the abundance of stories it can contain.
You can learn about poetic influences by coming to our exhibition or reading some of his lectures in his books, The Redress of Poetry and The Government of the Tongue.

Don't forget, our guided tour is tomorrow a 11 am

Today we are marking the 20th anniversary of the opening night of the first production of 'The Burial at Thebes' in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in 2004.
Join our online book club next month for a chat about the play!

Seamus Heaney reminds us of the early colour the whin brings to the countryside when it bursts into bright yellow bloom around now. Of course, you may know it as gorse or furze but there is no doubting it is the same plant when you read Seamus' description.