Heaney, hope and history rhyming.

At the launch of the 'Atlas of Donegal' on Saturday, Martin McGuinness told the audience about the power of Heaney’s words literally bringing opposite sides together. He recalled giving Ian Paisley a hand-written Heaney poem as a retirement present and his subsequent surprise at seeing it on the wall when visiting Paisley’s office some months later. It’s a simple anecdote, but it shows how the late poet and his words managed to be a great leveller. Apologies for the sound quality – I was down the back of the hall, but the good news is the poem itself is gloriously recited in stereo by Liam Neeson at the end.

In this audio piece, Liam Neeson reads Heaney's 'The Cure at Troy' from the 1998 album, Across the Bridge of Hope. All rights reserved http://www.amazon.com/Across-The-Bridge-Of-Hope/dp/B00000J875 Commenting on Heaney's death, Neeson said 'Ireland and Northern Ireland especially has lost a part of its artistic soul. He crafted through his poetry who we are as a species and the living soil that we toiled in. By doing so he defined our place in the Universe'.

Human beings suffer, They torture one another, They get hurt and get hard. No poem or play or song Can fully right a wrong Inflicted and endured. The innocent in gaols Beat on their bars together. A hunger-striker's father Stands in the graveyard dumb. The police widow in veils Faints at the funeral home. History says, don't hope On this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme. So hope for a great sea-change On the far side of revenge. Believe that further shore Is reachable from here. Believe in miracle And cures and healing wells. Call miracle self-healing: The utter, self-revealing Double-take of feeling. If there's fire on the mountain Or lightning and storm And a god speaks from the sky That means someone is hearing The outcry and the birth-cry Of new life at its term.

The map shows the location of Bellaghy Bawn, which was opened to the public in 1996. The centre has resources on site including a film made for the bawn as well as a collection of Heaney's broadcasts and poetry. Bellaghy lies in the heart of the County Derry countryside where Heaney grew up on a farm in Mossbawn, a place his wife Marie says holds the key to her husband. "It's his paradise, his Eden, all he's ever wanted to do is go back." On the 2nd of September, he had his wish granted when he was buried in the local cemetery beside his younger brother. #poetry #Heaney #seamusheaney #Ireland #Bellaghy #Derry #Seamus #poem

Details of the perfect Christmas present, the excellent new Atlas of Donegal can be found here: - http://www.irishbooksdirect.ie/irish-history-regional-history/irish-history-regional-history/atlas-of-county-donegal