The late great poet Seamus Heaney
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MLA has paid tribute to the legacy of fellow Derry man Seamus Heaney following the unveiling of a portrait of the poet at Stormont this afternoon.
The Foyle MLA said his experience of education was shaped by the influence of the literary giant.
Mr Eastwood said: “Growing up in Derry, it was impossible not to be influenced and shaped by the work of Seamus Heaney.
“For those of us who attended St Columb’s College, it was a particular source of pride that such a global literary and cultural figure was a presence in our educational experience.
“Like no other, Seamus gave a voice to our history.
“In the most difficult times he was courageously poetic about the political, reflecting on the savagery of violence and the enduring pain inflicted on all of those who suffered through it.
“His work is a lasting monument to our common experience of conflict. His unique ability to elevate the ordinary to become the extraordinary gave weight to our shared experiences and, in his own quiet but powerful way, contributed to reconciliation.
“He understood and gave voice to the timeless nature of our common experience and in doing so; his squat pen became a powerful weapon in the struggle against violence.
“Seamus stands tall among the giants of Irish literature. His name will long be uttered alongside Yeats, Beckett, Joyce and Kavanagh. It was our distinct privilege to know him and share in his experience.
“I’m delighted to see his contribution to modern Ireland recognised at Stormont and I know his work will continue to inspire for generations to come.”
