A weekend to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney HomePlace is privileged to present a weekend of events to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Seamus Heaney.
Joining us to mark this significant occasion is Paul Muldoon, Ireland Chair of Poetry, to open what promises to be an unforgettable weekend. It is imperative for HomePlace to position poetry at the heart of this commemoration, and with this in mind, we are delighted to welcome ten poets from across Ireland and the UK to read from their work and explore Seamus Heaney’s ongoing legacy. On Saturday evening, we welcome Colm Mac Con Iomaire, one of Ireland’s most acclaimed musicians and on Sunday as a fitting way to close our weekend, we will screen the acclaimed Arena documentary Seamus Heaney and the music of what happens, an emotional and significant celebration of Seamus Heaney’s life and work.
Full Weekend Schedule
An evening with Paul Muldoon
Friday 25 August at 7.30pm I Tickets: £22.50
HomePlace is delighted to open our weekend of commemorative events with a reading by Paul Muldoon. Paul last visited HomePlace in 2018 and took part in our online season of events ‘Keeping Going’ in 2020. Paul Muldoon’s first pamphlet, published in 1971, was entitled Knowing My Place. Over 50 years on, his place has long been assured at the top table of contemporary literature. Through collections like Moy Sand and Gravel (which won the Pulitzer Prize), Horse Latitudes and Quoof, Muldoon has emerged as one of the greatest living poets in English, celebrated for his playful wit, his technical brilliance and the freewheeling juxtaposition of image and ideas. Tickets available here.
Colm Mac Con Iomaire in Concert
Saturday 26 August at 7.30pm I Tickets: £22.50
In a crowded field of outstanding Irish fiddle players and interpreters of traditional music, Colm Mac Con Iomaire is unique. His voice is unmistakably his own and his music bears distinctive creative hallmarks which have as much to do with his personality and character as with his impressive technical mastery, musical authority and exquisitely expressive playing. One of Ireland’s most respected musicians, Colm was a founding member of The Frames with Glen Hansard, is a founding member of Kila and a world famous session musician, playing on David Gray’s White Ladder, amongst others. He has released three solo instrumental albums: The Hare’s Corner (Cúinne an Ghiorria, And Now the Weather (Agus Anois an Aimsir) and The River Holds Its Breath (Tost ar an Abhainn). As well as being a renowned composer and performer, Colm has worked extensively writing music for film, theatre and television. He created the music for the theatrical shows Bláth and How to Catch a Star and for movies Dare to be Wild, Out of Innocence and the Oscar-nominated animation Late Afternoon. Colm last performed in The Helicon last year, in a magical evening alongside Carol Ann Duffy. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of Ireland’s finest musicians, along with some special guests to be announced. Tickets available here.
‘A NOTE THAT PAYS YOU BACK’
Ten Poets Read and Reflect
To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of Seamus Heaney, HomePlace has invited ten poets from across Ireland and the UK to read from their work and talk about the influence Heaney has had on their writing and on poetry in general, across two afternoons. From Sligo to Scotland and Belfast to Wales, these poets are all celebrating the continued power of poetry through their award-winning work while highlighting the value of poetry in our society. Join us for two wonderful afternoons to celebrate the current poetic landscape, the influence of Seamus Heaney and his ongoing legacy. Tickets available here.
Saturday:
2pm Alice Lyons
2.40pm Niall Campbell
3.20pm Emma Must
4pm Martin Dyar
4.40pm Zaffar Kunial
Sunday:
2pm Sarah Clancy
2.40pm Nandi Jola
3.20pm Rachel Coventry
4pm Mark Pajak
4.40pm Owen Sheers
Seamus Heaney and the music of what happens: Screening and Q&A
With Adam Low and Martin Rosenbaum, in conversation with Hugh Odling-Smee
Sunday 27 August at 7.30pm I Tickets: £10
In 2019, Doubleband Films, in conjunction with Lone Star Productions, produced this feature-length documentary about the life and work of Seamus Heaney. Six years after Heaney’s death in 2013, his wife Marie and his children talk about their family life and read the poems he wrote for them, and for the first time his brothers remember their childhood and the shared experiences that inspired many of his finest poems. What emerges is an intimate portrait of the poet and an insight into how his work continues to resonate today. HomePlace is honoured to close our weekend of commemorative events with a screening of this critically acclaimed and emotional documentary, which will be followed by a conversation and Q&A with the film’s producer Martin Rosenbaum and director Adam Low. Tickets available here.
SPECIAL WEEKEND PASS:
Book tickets for all five events in our commemorative weekend at the one time and get them for the reduced price of £60.
