The late Seamus Heaney
A festival, named and supported by the late Seamus Heaney will poignantly celebrate the life and times of the great poet on the first anniversary of his death.
The four day festival, Celebrating Seamus Heaney On Home Ground, will take place from September 11 – 14 at various venues including the Laurel Villa in Magherafelt, which earlier this year was awarded a five-star rating by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB).
The event will include poetry readings, children’s workshops, a selection of films by the BBC (originally presented by Seamus Heaney) and coach tours of the Heaney country, explained Ruth Burns, NITB’s Marketing and PR Manager.
“Seamus Heaney is a world renowned literary figure whose writings spoke of a deep love for Northern Ireland. During his career he won numerous awards for his works including the Noble Prize for Literature, the Whitbread Award and more recently the T. S. Elliot Award.
“Celebrating Seamus Heaney On Home Ground will bring a unique and inspiring collection of writers, poets, artists and friends of the author together to celebrate his writing in his homeland of Magherafelt.”
Some of the event highlights at Laurel Villa include:
On Thursday, 11 September (daily from 10.00am) the festival opens with a horticulturally inspired trail by Jean Bleakney entitled, Poetry Trail – From Boortree To Anemone. Take a stroll in the garden of Laurel Villa and you will find a trail of poems placed alongside plants to which they are linked by name or association.
On the same day, The Verbal Arts Centre,, together with a team of creative writers, will host creative writing workshops aimed at various ages. The workshops will encourage participants to gain a greater understanding of how to structure and develop their own poetry.
On Friday, at 10.30am, Eoin Colfer the laureate Na nÓG and best-selling author of books for children and teens, including the Artemis Fowl series, Half Moon Investigations and the Wish List, launches Once Upon A Place. Once Upon A Place will be a memorable storytelling event that will spark children’s imaginations and bring the magic of story and of books to young people in an experiential way.
Later that day Eoin will be in conversation with celebrated children’s author and artist Oliver Jeffers
My Heaney, on the Saturday at 1.00pm, will include a series of well known journalists, writers and musicians (including Seamus McKee, travel writer Christopher Somerville and Belfast Telegraph political Editor Liam Clarke) all of whom willpersonally select their favourite Heaney poems and reveal how Heaney’s work helped to shape them.
On Sunday at 2.00pm, popular chef, teacher and broadcaster Paula McIntyre brings her culinary skills to Seamus Heaney’s poetry in a bespoke cookery demonstration.
Heaney and the Eaten Word – A cookery demonstration with Paula McIntyre will feature everything from sloe gin, blackberries and buttermilk to perch, salmon and oysters.
A full programme of events is available from www.onhomegroundfestival.com and bookings can be made in person at The Bridewell Tourist Information Centre or by telephone on 028 79631510
For information on great places to enjoy a short break in Co Derry~Londonderry log onto www.discovernorthernireland.com.
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