Seamus Heaney is led to his final resting place in Bellaghy.
The priest who said the funeral mass for poet Seamus Heaney said today that Bellaghy and Derry was honoured that he chose there to be buried.
Fr Andy Dolan led hundreds of mourners in Bellaghy as the sun shone down for one last time on the memory of one of Ireland’s greatest writers.
Fr Dolan told mourners “We are honoured that Seamus Heaney chose to be buried here. The name of Seamus Heaney and this place will be forever entwined.
“We are privileged to fulfill his wish that he be buried here in the place he never left and among the people who influenced him so much and made him who he was and influenced what he said.”
And he added poignantly: “May the green sod of Bellaghy rest gently upon him.”
The 74-year-old poet, playwright and author died suddenly, after a short illness, in Dublin on Friday last.
The Church of the Sacred Heart in Dublin was packed to capacity for the Requiem Mass with hundreds more outside earlier today.
Mourners were led led by the late poet’s wife, Maire, daughter Catherine and sons Christopher and Michael.
Also present were Pesident Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, former President Mary McAleese, Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, U2’s Bono and “The Edge,” and Strabane singer-songwriter Paul Brady.
Addressing those present, chief concelebrant, Monsigner Brendan Devlin, a former student of St Columb’s College in Derry where Seamus Heaney was educated, said the late poet would have been “delighted” his Requiem Mass was being said in a “northern accent.”
Among those who took part in the Readings were the late poet’s brother, Seamus, while family members and friends read the Prayers of the Faithful. Copies of Seamus Heaney’s works were among the Offerty Gifts brought to the altar.
The service was also broadcast “live” on a “News Special” on RTE Television.
Following the service Mr Heaney’s remains were taken to his home village of Bellaghy arriving at around 5.30pm.
Since Friday, tributes to the late poet have been pouring in from across the world, including former US President Bill Clinton.
Mr Clinton, who recited excerpts of Seamus Heaney’s work during his historic visit to Northern Ireland in 1995, described him as a “powerful voice for peace. ”
The former US President, who named his pet dog “Seamus” in honour of the Nobel Prize-winning poet, added Mr Heaney was “our finest poet of the rhythms of ordinary lives.”
Tags:
