Seamus Heaney HomePlace - Poetry, Place & Craft

Discover the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Northern Ireland

If you’re planning a cultural trip in Northern Ireland, the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy is a must-visit. The centre is situated between Heaney's childhood homes - one at Mossbawn and the other The Wood, close to St Mary's Church where he was buried. The land of his childhood and his friendships with local people inspired much of his writing.

Dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning poet Seamus Heaney, it offers an inspiring exhibition, an arts and events programme, and a beautiful space that celebrates words, landscape, and heritage. Located in the town centre of Bellaghy, County Londonderry, it’s a cultural destination that combines history, literature and creativity. This is a beautiful place to spend a day, with a lovely café and a gift shop in the foyer, with curated works by local makers.

The HomePlace tells the story of Heaney’s life from rural roots to international acclaim.

Heaney was born in the townland of Tamniaran near Castledawson Northern Ireland on 13 April 1939, the first of nine children. His father Patrick was a farmer and cattle dealer and his mother Margaret came from a family of linen mill workers. The family moved to Bellaghy in 1953 and this has been the family homeplace since then. After attending the local primary school, Heaney won a scholarship to St Columb's College, a Roman Catholic boarding school in Derry when he was twelve years old. Heaney went on to study English Language and Literature at Queen's University Belfast starting in 1957 and was inspired to write about his own life by the poetry of Ted Hughes. He graduated in 1961 with a First Class Honours degree and then trained as a teacher at St Joseph's Teacher Training College in Belfast then teaching St Thomas' Secondary Intermediate School in Ballymurphy, Belfast. The school principal became a mentor to Heaney and introduced him to other writers through The Belfast Group and encouraged him to publish his own work.

Heaney then moved to a lecturing post at St Josephs where he met Marie Devlin, a fellow teacher and writer, who became his wife in 1965 and with whom he had three children. Heaney later taught at Queen's University Belfast and wrote for The Irish Times, often on the subject of radio. Heaney's first book, Eleven Poems, was published in November 1965 for the Queen's University Festival.

Heaney travelled much with his work and spent time lecturing at Harvard, Oxford receiving many honorary degrees and awards, dividing his time between Ireland and USA. Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995 for "works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past". Asked how he felt to have his name added to the Irish Nobel pantheon of W. B. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett, Heaney responded 'It's like being a little foothill at the bottom of a mountain range. You hope you just live up to it. It's extraordinary.'

Heaney's 'Death of a naturalist' was published by Faber and Faber in 1965 and they remained his publisher for the rest of his life.

In 2003 the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry was opened at Queen's University Belfast. It houses the Heaney Media Archive, a record of Heaney's entire works, along with a full catalogue of his radio and television presentations. He also lodged a substantial portion of his literary archive ( 1964- 2003) at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia to help build their large existing archive of material from Irish writers including Yeats, Paul Muldoon, Ciaran Carson, Michael Longley and other members of the Belfast Group.

Heaney was named one of "Britain's top 300 intellectuals" by The Observer in 2011, though the newspaper later published a correction acknowledging that "several individuals who would not claim to be British" had been featured, of which Heaney was one - born and educated in Northern Ireland, Heaney had always stressed that he was Irish and not British.

Seamus Heaney died on 30th August 2013 after a short illness, in hospital, awaiting surgery after a fall. His son Michael revealed at the funeral mass that his father texted his final words, 'Noli timere' ('Be not afraid') to his wife Marie, minutes before he died. His funeral was broadcast live on RTE and he was buried in the evening at St. Mary's Church, Bellaghy in the same graveyard as his parents, younger brother, and other family members.

The Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy is Award-Winning

Seamus Heaney HomePlace is an award-winning, purpose-built arts and literary centre developed by Mid Ulster District Council. It has won a number of prestigious Awards since opening to the public in September 2016. Visitors can explore immersive and emotive exhibitions featuring manuscripts, recordings, and artefacts - even listen to Heaney read his own poetry.

There is a fantastic program of talks, workshops, and live performances. Relax in the café and browse the shop filled with unique local crafts and books.

The Seamus Heaney HomePlace Gift Shop in Bellaghy

The Seamus Heaney HomePlace gift shop champions local artists, writers, and craftspeople, offering visitors the chance to take home something truly special. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir or gift, the shop’s selection of handmade jewellery, books and crafts will offer plenty to choose from.

Seamus Heaney often wrote about craft, tradition, and place – from the rhythm of farm tools to the artistry of blacksmiths. His words celebrate the handmade and the meaningful, themes that strongly resonate with me as a jewellery maker. As a jeweller, having my work included in the Seamus Heaney HomePlace gift shop is deeply meaningful. It connects my craft to the themes of poetry, heritage, and creativity that Heaney celebrated so beautifully. Each design is inspired by Irish landscapes – the shimmer of water, the curve of the shoreline, the strength of stone. These handcrafted pieces make meaningful keepsakes, connecting visitors not only to Heaney’s poetry but also to the creative spirit of Northern Ireland. Making jewellery is much like writing poetry - shaping raw material into something that holds beauty, memory, and significance. As a local jeweller, I am honoured to have my jewellery stocked in the HomePlace gift shop.

You can also visit my website here and to keep up to date, you can find me on Instagram.

If you have the chance, I highly recommend visiting Bellaghy, stepping into the HomePlace, and experiencing for yourself the poetry of both words and craft.

To keep up to date with events at Seamus Heaney Homeplace you can visit the website here and on Instagram here.

Seamus Heaney HomePlace - Poetry, Place & Craft | Jackie McMaster Jewellery 2025

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