The Poet and The Piper

As the crowning touch to the sixth Seamus Heaney Lecture Series “Hearing Heaney”, Seamus Heaney himself read from a selection of the twelve poetry books he has published from Death of a Naturalist to Human Chain, sharing the platform with master piper Liam O’ Flynn. It was appropriate, following so much distinguished comment and exegesis on the work of Heaney during the series, that here was an occasion when the two art forms of poetry and music were allowed to speak for themselves. Some of the programme overlapped with the CD The Poet and the Piper; more of it was new.

There was an electric dynamic between both artists, which communicated itself in such a way that collective audience enthralment mutated into an element of the performance.  Among the poems that Seamus Heaney read were the well-loved ‘Death of a Naturalist’, ‘Mid-Term Break’ and ‘The Railway Children’ while Liam O’ Flynn’s tunes included ‘Port na bPúcaí’, ‘Sliabh Gallion Braes’ (on tin whistle) and the stunning performance of ‘The Foxchase’.

As an aside to his reading of ‘A Kite for Michael and Christopher’, Seamus Heaney commented that “kite-making isn’t something you do everyday”: equally it can be said that an occasion as marvellous as last night doesn’t happen every day. Those fortunate enough to be there were in agreement that they had been part of a magical process.

The night was chaired with style and aplomb by Professor Patrick Crotty, Head of the School of Language & Literature at the University of Aberdeen, and editor of the major and definitive Penguin Book of Irish Poetry (2010).

In the light of the success of this series, it would be appropriate to thank the chairman Dr Ciarán Mac Murchaidh who ensured the smooth running of the series. Ciarán was ably assisted by members of the series committee, John O’Flynn, Eugene McNulty, Regina Murphy, Máire Ní Bhaoill, Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Pádraig Ó Duibhir and Mary Shine-Thompson.

Thanks is also due to the following staff Pat Burke (Theatre Manager), Paul Murphy (Audio Visual Department), Theresa O'Farrell and Róisín Purcell (President's Office).

The committee acknowledges the support of:

The Croke Park Hotel

Foras na Gaeilge

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Wednesday March 16 2011