Seamus Heaney won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1995 “for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past”. It is this evocation of the “living past” that will concern us in this session as we examine some of the poems Heaney wrote about his parents. Rarely has a poet had such a “secure base” (John Bowlby) from which to write, and Heaney’s work pays tribute to his parents in several ways. First, we will consider how his work makes lyric out of the rich “memory weights” with which his childhood was blessed. Secondly, we will turn to what Heaney learned from these farming people for his art. Finally, the morning will assess how, right up to his own death in 2013, his work is haunted by the loss of his parents.

Equally open to those who are familiar with, or are new to Heaney’s work, this study morning – comprising both presentation and workshop participation – will resonate with anyone interested in how art responds to the complexities of familial love.

Admission: £10 inc. materials and coffee

Brunch deal: £22 served from 1pm