Seamus Heaney: A Literary Treasure

The sudden death of Irish Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney (1939-2013), on August 30, 2013 caused a deep sense of loss at one of the most celebrated poets in the English language. There were numerous tributes and laudatory obituaries not alone in Ireland, north and south, Britain, the United States, but also across the world, a reflection of his international stature. These tributes referred to his talent, wit, personal warmth, social concern, sense of justice and humility, as well as generosity with his time and literary gifts. Despite his many honours and awards, including the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995, he remained a very humble man to the end of his days. In his first poem, Digging, in his debut collection, Death of a Naturalist (1966), he declared his ambition:

Between my finger and my thumb

The squat pen rests.

I’ll dig with it.

After early eulogising of his native place around Bellaghy in South Derry (where he was laid to rest on September 2, in St Mary’s Churchyard) and evocative celebration of farm life and customs, he had the talent to exult the local and make it universal, as well as addressing contemporary issues and expressing his sense of justice for all humankind.

Most tributes to him mentioned his unassuming personality and his generous help to others. I had an experience of this generosity. When working on the book which became The Archaeological Heritage of Killasser, Co, Mayo (1991), I wrote to Seamus for permission to quote from two of his poems. He replied promptly and gave permission. When the book was published, I sent him a copy. Again, he send a prompt reply, thanking me for it and stating that he looked forward to reading it!

Seamus Heaney became a national treasure in Ireland and held a special place at all appropriate State occasions. He became a great ambassador for his country, as well as for poetry, a literary treasure for all humanity. He has left a wonderful collection of writing: poetry, prose, translations, plays and the nearest we have to an autobiography, Stepping Stones, with Dennis O’Driscoll (all published by Faber and Faber in London), and in his own words has left us all "gaping at his Midas touch".

Bernard O'Hara's latest book entitled Killasser: Heritage of a Mayo Parish is now on sale in the USA and UK as a paperback book at amazon.com, amazon.co.uk or Barnes and Noble

It is also available as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).

An earlier publication, a concise biography of Michael Davitt, entitled Davitt by Bernard O’Hara published in 2006 by Mayo County Council , is now available as Davitt: Irish Patriot and Father of the Land League by Bernard O’Hara, which was published in the USA by Tudor Gate Press (www.tudorgatepress.com) and is available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. It can be obtained as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).