Call for volunteers to read a poem from Seamus Heaney’s North in Derry

Derry is set to celebrate the power of Seamus Heaney's poetry collection North in its 50^th anniversary year and locals are invited to be a part of it. 

Up to 30 citizens are being sought to lend their voices to this landmark commemorative event that honours the work of one of Ireland's greatest poets.

As part of Arts Over Borders’ FRIELDAYS – A HOMECOMING 2025–2029, a major multi-year cultural celebration honouring the legacy of Brian Friel across Derry, Donegal and Tyrone, members of the Derry public are invited to take part in a unique performed reading of North.

On Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, a series of public readings of Heaney’s North (published 1975) will be presented, alongside performed readings of Brian Friel’s play Volunteers, also published in 1975. These community-led readings will take place across four city venues in Derry, weaving together diverse voices from across the city.

As we approach Monday, June 9 - the 50th Anniversary of the publication of North by Faber - organisers are now calling on members of the public to participate in this commemorative event by lending their voices to one of the 30 poems in North.

A spokesperson said: "No stage experience? That’s not a problem! Whether you're a lifelong Heaney devotee or just discovering his brilliance, all you need is a love for the written word and the desire to share it publicly. We're looking for a diverse range of voices – a tapestry of ages, cultural backgrounds and professions – to bring these powerful poems to life.

"We’re not looking for theatrical delivery! We want your natural authentic voice, connecting with the natural beauty of Heaney's poetry. We are not seeking actors. We're seeking to intertwine the poems with the people of Derry and Donegal.

"Imagine if you are a local older women baker or from a bakery reading "Sunlight" (inspired by his aunt's baking), a potato farmer reciting "The Seed Cutters," a young martial arts practitioner delivering "Antaeus," or an undertaker lending their voice to "Funeral Rites." Other voices we're keen to hear include: an Inishowen resident, a personal trainer/bodybuilder, a Belfast person living in Derry, a poet, a police officer/PSNI member (or retired), a former St. Columb's College pupil, a painter, someone from the medical profession, a Lambeg drum player, a Dublin/Wicklow person in Derry, an engraver, an internee, an osteopath, a gardener, a foster parent, and even an Englishman with a Devon accent living in Derry!

"Whether you're a lifelong fan of Seamus Heaney or new to his work, this is a chance to volunteer to be part of a city-wide tribute and to share in the power of poetry and performance."

To express your interest in participating as a volunteer reader, please email with details of your age, profession/background and a short pitch why you’d like to be a volunteer reader to: mcphillips.margaret@gmail.com or visit Arts Over Borders by Monday, June 16.

Join us for this extraordinary celebration of language, memory, and home, as we mark the beginning of FRIELDAYS – A HOMECOMING with Heaney’s voice echoing through the streets of Derry.