New commemorative stamp celebrates heaney
A new commemorative 68c stamp celebrating the late Seamus Heaney, one of the world’s best-known and widely admired poets and recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature, was issued on Thursday, August 28.
Designed by Dublin-based Vermillion Design, the 68c stamp features a black and white photograph of the poet by John Minihan while a special First Day Cover envelope shows an extract from his 1969 poem,Bogland, alongside details from Heaney’s own poetry notes (courtesy of the National Library of Ireland). Both items may be viewed and purchased at all main post offices, at the GPO Stamp Shop and online at irishstamps.ie.
Moved
Speaking on behalf of the family at a viewing of the new stamp at the GPO, Seamus’s son Michael said:“We are immensely moved that An Post has chosen to mark Dad’s memory with the issue of this stamp. The year since he died has been a sad time for our family, but this is not only a wonderful testament to his life and work, but also a reminder of the generosity and support people have shown since Dad’s passing. We would like to express our deepest thanks and appreciation to everyone involved in bestowing this rare honour on the husband, father, grandfather and poet we miss so much.”
Acclaimed
Seamus Heaney was born on April 13, 1939 in Castledawson, County Derry. He received a scholarship to attend St Columb’s College in Derry and went on to study English at Queen’s University, Belfast. After his graduation in 1961, he worked as a schoolteacher for a time before becoming a college lecturer.
http://youtu.be/HhBK5_zLwJY
He had his publishing debut in 1966 with Death of a Naturalist. He went on to publish many more acclaimed collections of poetry including North (1975), Station Island (1984), The Spirit Level (1996) andDistrict and Circle (2006). His translation of the epic poem Beowulf (2000), for which he won the Whitbread Prize, became a best seller.
Over the years, he also became known for his prose writing and work as an editor, as well as serving as a professor at Harvard and Oxford universities. Seamus Heaney died on August 30, 2013.