Seamus Heaney Laid To Rest

Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney has been laid to rest in his hometown of Bellaghy in County L'Derry.

The ceremony was carried out yesterday and followed an earlier funeral service at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybrook, County Dublin.

The 74-year-old poet, recognised as Ireland's greatest since W.B. Yeats, died in a Dublin hospital on Friday.

Among the mourners at the service in Dublin were Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and the SDLP's John Hume.

The funeral service was also attended by members of U2, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Michael D Higgins, as well as musicians Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains and folk singer Paul Brady.

The Kildare piper Liam O'Flynn played a lament during the service.

Seamus Heaney is celebrated in both Ireland and Great Britain as a major national poet.

Growing up the eldest of a nationalist family of nine children in rural County L'Derry, his poetry covers themes such as politics, the Troubles and pastoral identity.

Northern Ireland Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín paid tribute yesterday.

She said: "I am very saddened to hear of the death of Seamus Heaney. He was a literary great of our age and his voice will be truly missed.

"There were many parallels between Heaney and his work. His reputation was global, but he never lost sight of his roots. His writings were universal, but frequently dealt with the smallest details of life in Ireland. His poems could be disarmingly simple and yet had an engaging complexity.

"He could show poignancy, insight and humour in a single line. Heaney captured the character of this land and its people, and conveyed it in words which will echo for generations. He was a Nobel Laureate and international figure, but a Co Derry man at heart.

"My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time."

(IT/MH)