Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney will be laid to rest in his home village of Bellaghy this afternoon.
Poet Seamus Heaney
Tributes from around the world have been paid to the 74-year-old following his unexpected death after a short illness on Friday last in Dublin where he had lived for a number of years.
The beloved poet’s remains were taken to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook, Dublin, at 6.45 pm last evening and thousands are expected to attend his Requiem Mass at 11.30am this morning.
After Mass, his remains will be taken to Co. Derry for interment in Bellaghy Cemetery at around 5.45pm.
Books of Condolence have been opened in Derry and Dublin.
Opening the Derry book in the city’s Guildhall, Mayor Martin Reilly, described as “a powerful and moving performance” the poet’s last public appearance in the city when he performed at the “Poet and the Piper,” staged last month in the Millennium Forum as part of the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann celebrations.
Describing Heaney as “one of the greatest poets the world has seen,” Mayor Reilly said the poet, who was recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, was “one of the greatest poets the world has seen.”
Among those who have paid are Irish President, Michael D Higgins, fellow Nobel Laureate, former SDLP leader John Hume, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, retired Bishop of Derry Most Rev Dr Edward Daly and Finbar Madden, principal of St Columb’s College, where Seamus poet was educand said the poet’s works had inspired him throughout his political career.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said he was privileged to have had Seamus Heaney as a friend.
He added: “The presence of Seamus Heaney was a warm one, full of humour, care and courtesy that enabled him to carry with such wry Northern Irish dignity so many well-deserved honours from all over the world.”
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, said there were no words to “describe adequately” the nation’s loss and “poetry’s grief” at the passing of Seamus Heaney.
He added Ireland was “blessed to call Seamus Heaney our own” and thankful for the gift of him in “our national life.”
He added: “He belongs with Joyce, Yeats, Shaw and Beckett in the pantheon of our greatest literary exponents.”
Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the passing of “Ireland’s greatest poet and one of the literary giants of our generation.”
He added: “The writings of Seamus Heaney transcended all generations and boundaries.”
Former US President, Bill Clinton, who quoted from the poet’s writings during his historic visit to Derry in 1995, said he regarded the late Nobel Laureate as “a friend” and had been so influenced by him that he named his pet dog “Seamus.”
Seamus Heaney is survived by his wife Marie, daughter Catherine Anne and sons Christopher and Michael. He was predeceased by his siblings Sheena, Ann and Christopher.
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