Lavey native to recall memories of Seamus Heaney at Bellaghy event
Michael Boyle will share personal stories, anecdotes, and a unique perspective on the symbol of the flail in Seamus Heaney’s poetry
A former student of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney will make a welcome return to his native south Derry next week to share personal stories and anecdotes about the poet.
Michael Boyle, a retired geography teacher and native of Lavey, who now resides in Newfoundland in Canada, was a member of the very first class taught by Heaney at St Joseph’s College in Belfast.
Boyle will be the feature speaker at a night held in Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy on Wednesday, September 9 at 7.30pm.
The event has been billed as ‘an engaging evening of local history, recitations, stories and traditional music’ which will ‘offer a rare personal look into the early teaching days of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney’.
Seamus Heaney passed away on August 30 2013, at the age of 74.
Boyle will share personal stories, anecdotes, and a unique perspective on the symbol of the flail in Heaney’s poetry.
He will also read selections from his recently published memoir, On New Turf, which is currently a number four bestseller on Amazon.
Boyle will also recall Heaney’s involvement in the early 1960s Ballyscullion Games Day Fiesta organised by Fr. McGaughey, an event featuring a tug-of-war, flail demonstrations, donkey races, Irish dancing, tractor reversing, and a 56-pound weight throw.
On the evening, Bellaghy native and former Derry footballer Lawrence Diamond will introduce Boyle, his childhood school friend, marking their first reunion since their school days at Rainey Endowed in Magherafelt.
Newfoundland singer, storyteller, and actor Randy Crane will host the evening and perform recitations connecting his island home on Newfoundland’s Southern Shore to Ireland.
All-Ireland tin whistle champion Clare Doherty from Ballymacpeake will also perform a special musical composition, ‘The Flail’ on the night.
Admission is £10 and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating.
On Friday, September 11, Boyle will be a featured speaker at the Digging at Sixty Conference being held in Queen's University in Belfast to mark the 60th anniversary of the publication of Seamus Heaney's groundbreaking first poetry collection, Death of a Naturalist.
On Sunday, September 13 at 7.30pm, Boyle will also take part in an event held in Lavey GAA club. Here he will tell stories, perform songs and give readings from his publication. All funds raised will go to Lavey parish.