Seamus Heaney 10th Anniversary

Image: A bust of Seamus Heaney in bronze by Maurice Harron

It has been 10 years now since the passing of our late-lamented Nobel laureate, Seamus Heaney.

Today marks the passing of one of our greatest and most celebrated literary giants. It also means that it is approaching 25 years since Seamus generously supported our first poetry initiative publication, the anthology entitled ‘You Can’t Eat Flags for Breakfast’ Seamus very generously contributed the poem called ‘Catechism’

Since 2013 CAP has hosted the Seamus Heaney Award for Achievement, for school aged children and young people, and the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing for those who are over 18. Supported, endorsed and championed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Heaney family, these awards were the first to be offered in recognition of the legacy of the Nobel laureate and are deeply cherished by participants and winning poets alike.

Now, as we continue to pay tribute to the great man and his legacy, we, as CAP, are delighted to offer our continuing support through the programmes that provide and promote platforms to emerging poets of all ages, North and increasingly, South. The Seamus Heaney Awards, for New Writing and also for Achievement, could not exist without the ongoing backing from Maire, Seamus’ widow, and their family. Their decision to see Seamus Heaney’s legacy marked across all communities, ages, faiths and genders by our Poetry in Motion programmes, is a privilege and a responsibility that we do not take lightly. We are honoured.

Today, we announce the title and herald the imminent opening of submissions to the 10th anniversary of the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing.

As we said, with some poetic intention: “We hope the ‘Manifest’ anthology will become a luminous testament to the boundless power of poetic expression, where every line and stanza can become a means of greater connection and understanding, celebrating the depth of poet talent that we have here in our own corner of the world, with every verse or half rhyme.”

So, we look forward to announcing the updated submissions process next month, but for now,‘ with ‘Manifest’  we continue to celebrate our late poetic champion, Seamus Heaney.

Best wishes

Conor Shields, ceo

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