Seamus Heaney: The Northern Irish Voice
Ever wondered how a farm boy from Northern Ireland became one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century? Seamus Heaney was born in 1939 in Derry, the eldest of nine children who helped with farm work and cattle selling. His life took a dramatic turn when he won a scholarship to a posh Catholic boarding school.
Tragedy struck early when his four-year-old brother Christopher died in a car accident whilst Heaney was at school. This devastating loss inspired two of his most famous poems: 'Mid-term Break' and 'The Blackbird of Glanmore'. The experience of grief and guilt would echo throughout his work.
At Queen's University, Heaney discovered his calling after reading Ted Hughes' collection "Lupercal". He wasn't one to stay put - moving from Dublin to teaching at Harvard for 12 years, then Oxford. Despite his international fame, his children remembered him as simply "Just Dad at home".
Quick Fact: Heaney was so humble that he hesitated to donate his papers to Ireland's Library because he didn't want to overshadow his hero, W.B. Yeats!
