Seamus Heaney HomePlace Announce ‘Imaginative Springs’

‘Imaginative Springs’ is a collaborative cross-border project between Seamus Heaney HomePlace and Yeats Society, Sligo. The project will encompass two zoom workshops exploring five poems by Seamus Heaney and six poems by WB Yeats and a live reading of those poems in both Bellaghy and Sligo.

A stellar line-up to include Victoria Kennefick (poet), Stephen Sexton (poet and teacher at Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queen’s University), Kevin Power (author and lecturer) and Gail McConnell (poet and teacher at Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queen’s University).  The project is funded by Creative Ireland.

On Tuesday 25 October, Stephen Sexton and Gail McConnell will share a discussion and debate (free virtual event via zoom) focusing on five of Seamus Heaney’s poems (‘The Forge’ ‘Oysters’ ‘Clearances V’ ‘St Kevin and the Blackbird’ ‘Two Lorries’).  This event is curated by Seamus Heaney HomePlace.

On Wednesday 26 October, Victoria Kennefick and Kevin Power will share a discussion and debate (free virtual event via zoom) exploring six of WB Yeats’ poems (‘The Song of Wandering Aengus’ ‘A Coat’ ‘The Balloon of the Mind’ ‘Broken Dreams’ ‘Prayer for My Daughter’ ‘The Circus Animals’ Desertion’).  This event is curated by Yeats Society, Sligo.

The series sets out to use the power and voices of poetry to cement our shared cross-border connections.  Panellists have chosen poetry written by two of Ireland’s greatest writers and will facilitate discussions with participants on both sides of the border.

The events will culminate in a simultaneous live reading in both venues on Friday 28 October.  Northern Irish actress of film, stage and television, Bríd Brennan will read live in Bellaghy and actor Bob Kelly will read live in Sligo.  This event will be introduced by Victoria Kennefick.

25 October 2022 Book now

28 October 2022 Book now