Seamus Heaney HomePlace Launches Summer 2026 Events Programme
A Celebrated Programme of Theatre, Music, Literature, and Nature Comes to Life at HomePlace this Summer
A rich and diverse cultural programme promises an unforgettable season of theatre, music, literature, and artistic reflection, bringing together internationally acclaimed performers, writers, and musicians.
In May we invite visitors to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Death of a Naturalist, with a series of events that immerse participants in the landscapes and rhythms that inspired Seamus Heaney. A partnership with RSPB NI will celebrate the natural world through a series of events including writing in nature workshops, watercolour sessions inspired by The Long Point and the Lough Beg Nature Reserve, and the evocative Dawn Chorus at Lough Beg. Musician, songwriter and storyteller, John Spillane will perform in concert, and the following day will join Mary Reynolds and Peter Doran for a thought-provoking discussion on humanity’s relationship with nature and our shared responsibility to protect it.
A major highlight of the programme is the return of The Mikel Murfi Trilogy, a unique theatrical experience by Mikel Murfi. Performed over three consecutive nights, audiences will have the rare opportunity to experience all three of these acclaimed one-man shows in sequence—an immersive event not to be missed.
The musical programme continues with performances from traditional Irish group Altan and the Ulster Orchestra in June.
Film enthusiasts can look forward to a screening of Christy, winner of Best Film and Best Director at the recent Irish Film and Television Awards.
A unique artistic collaboration, We Are Archipelago, will feature poet Erin Fornoff performing alongside a full band including pianist Patrick O’Laoghaire, drummer Dominic Mullan, and double bassist Oisín Walsh-Peelo.
Poetry remains at the heart of the programme, with the return of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon. Ear to the Line will showcase two outstanding voices from a new generation—Matthew Rice and Annemarie Ní Churreáin—sharing work from their acclaimed collections. Frank Ormsby returns with his latest collection The Tumbling Paddy, while there is still a chance to snap up the last few tickets to see Pam Ayres in the Helicon on 21 August.
The literary line-up features an impressive roster of authors, including internationally acclaimed writer Patrick Radden Keefe discussing his new book London Falling. He is joined in this programme by novelist Andrew Miller, who will speak about his latest work The Land in Winter. In August, audiences can enjoy an evening with Bernard MacLaverty, celebrating a lifetime of storytelling.
Storytelling traditions are further explored through the HomePlace Storytelling Brunch with Colin Urwin and Ruth Kirkpatrick, presenting, The People of the Sea.
Contemporary Irish women’s writing is celebrated in Devotions, Rituals and Sketches, featuring Lucy Caldwell, Danielle McLaughlin, and Molly Hennigan.
The programme also welcomes Oscar-nominated author Maggie O’Farrell in June, who will discuss her latest book Land.
This vibrant programme offers something for everyone, celebrating creativity across disciplines while fostering meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and the natural world.
