On Thursday 17 October 2019 the Institute of Irish Studies welcomed Professor Louise Richardson (Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford) to deliver the inaugural Seamus Heaney Lecture. The event was introduced with a recital of Seamus Heaney's poetry by Adrian Dunbar (actor, screenwriter and director).
The Institute was honoured to welcome Seamus Heaney's family to the lecture, including his wife Marie; daughter, Catherine; and sons, Christopher and Michael.
Adrian Dunbar began the event by reciting the poems Death of a Naturalist, Requiem for the Croppies and Anything Can Happen. This was followed by a lecture from Professor Richardson in which she captured the essence of one of the greats of Irish literature by sharing personal stories from their 30-year friendship.
The full recording of the Inaugural Seamus Heaney Lecture can be found below.
- Study Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool.