Immerse yourself in the extraordinary world of Seamus Heaney, and explore through his words and imagination the people and place that so inspired him. Described by Michael Longley as "an echo chamber for the poet's beautiful lines", Seamus Heaney HomePlace features a fully interactive exhibition over two floors, filled with personal stories, images and the voice of the poet himself. A recreation of his Dublin study will transport you back to 1995, when Seamus Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Previously unseen artefacts, transcripts and books kindly donated by the Heaney family are also on display, ensuring a truly unique and illuminating experience for all. Schools and Group bookings should be made in advance. For special school and group rates contact Box Office.

Brian Bilston and Henry Normal appear together for the first time in a show which one critic has described as “two people reading some poems”. Along the way, they will be drawing on their vast catalogue of crowd favourites – and throwing in new poems, to prevent becoming their own tribute bands. Not ones to overpromise, Brian and Henry are prepared to commit to delivering the greatest poetry show in the history of the world or their names aren’t Brian Bilston and Henry Normal. An evening of poems to be enjoyed not endured.

Open Ground is a unique visitor experience centred on locations that shaped Seamus Heaney’s life and literature, including places from The Strand at Lough Beg to the Moyola River, which allows visitors the opportunity to discover the smells, sights and sounds that make his poetry so uniquely of this place.  Our new Open Ground Guided tour experience allows you to journey through this landscape with the assistance of our knowledgeable team. You’ll become acquainted with the same lanes, roads and paths that a young Seamus Heaney travelled on and through our informative guides, you’ll hear how each of these five locations held such great significance for Seamus Heaney.  Through the explanation and information revealed by our guides at each point, you will discover how each of these places, so much a part of Seamus Heaney’s formative years, influenced the rich legacy of his literature, with your guide sharing illuminating details and anecdotes around the significance, history and heritage of each unique site. You’ll leave with a much deeper, richer understanding of Seamus Heaney’s poetry and an appreciation for the nature and landscape which so inspired his works.  PLANNING YOUR VISIT:  The tour leaves from the Seamus Heaney HomePlace foyer (at the Exhibition entrance), and starts promptly 12.30PM. Ticket includes price of admission to our 'Man & Boy' exhibition (last admission to 'Man & Boy is 4pm), or your exhibition ticket can be used on an alternative date any time within one calendar month of completion of your Open Ground Tour The Open Ground tour lasts approximately 3 hours  Your own transport is required to travel from point to point and the guides will meet you at each site As this is an outdoor event, please wear suitable clothing and footwear, appropriate for changing weather conditions Booking in advance is essential due to limited places

Seamus Heaney wrote two poems about kites, 'A Kite for Michael and Christopher' and 'A kite for Aibhín'. Using the poems as inspiration children will create a wall hanging for their bedroom. A Kite for Michael and Christopher, Station Island, 1984: “All through that Sunday afternoon a kite flew above Sunday, a tightened drumhead, an armful of blown chaff…” A Kite for Aibhin, Human Chain, 2010: “And now it hovers, tugs, veers, dives askew, Lifts itself, goes with the wind until It rises to loud cheers from us below…” Age: 8-11 years old (strictly)

Irish country sensation Derek Ryan’s road to stardom is set to continue with his biggest concert tour yet. Following on from the phenomenal success of his recent TEN tour, Derek Ryan returns to Scotland with a brand new concert tour, playing the hits that has cemented Derek as Ireland’s biggest country singer-songwriter. Derek and his fantastic band (now rated as Ireland’s leading country band) are back on the road to perform many of Derek’s classic hits such as ‘Hold On To Your Hat’ ‘It’s Friday’ and ‘God’s Plan’. The Irish man is a multi-recipient of awards for his performances and songwriting including the Sunday World accolade for ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Songwriter of the Year’. But Derek, being at the forefront of this new wave of young Irish country stars, continues to remain ever loyal to his worldwide army of fans.

Written and Performed by Charlotte Mccurry. Directed by Paula Mcfetridge. Lenadoon, West Belfast, 1981.  Bernadette is 14. She loves her mammy, Gene Kelly, Doris Day and Julie Garland. She shares a bedroom with her wee sister, Julie. Julie loves Sheena Easton, Annie Lennox. And Adam Ant. Julie isn’t too bothered there’s women out banging bin lids – one of the hunger strikers just died. She’s more concerned with sorting a new pair of Topaz tights for the Horn Drive disco. She is fourteen after all... Julie Livingston was fatally shot by a plastic bullet while crossing the road near her home. Seen through the eyes of Julie’s sister Bernadette, this powerful new play follows a teenage girl navigating her own grief, her family’s loss and their struggle for justice.  A Q&A session will follow the performance.

Paul Lynch describes his 2023 Booker Prize-winning Prophet Song as an ‘attempt at radical empathy’. A deeply human portrait of one woman’s fight to hold her family together, the novel imagines a chilling totalitarian-state future for Ireland which echoes the present situation of so many across the world.  Join us to hear Lynch discuss his devastating vision of a country at war, the dangers of complacency and the power of fiction to illuminate the possible.  Among other prizes, Paul has won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and France’s Prix Libr’à Nous for Best Foreign Novel. He has been shortlisted for many international awards, including Italy’s Strega European Prize, France’s Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, Prix Littérature-Monde and the Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature. In 2024 he was appointed Distinguished Writing Fellow at Maynooth University and was elected to Aosdána, the Irish academy for the arts honouring distinguished artists

Working with an array of beautiful merino wool and silk fibres participants will be guided through the process of creating their own wet-felted artwork from the chosen theme, with additional detail added with needle felting. All materials are provided.  Andrea Hayes works from her home studio in Cookstown, County Tyrone and has won numerous textile art awards and exhibited throughout Ireland.  She graduated from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin where she specialised in embroidered textiles. She draws inspiration from the vast array of textures, colours and dramatic skylines of the Irish landscape.

We all have a story to tell but sometimes we don’t know how to begin. This immersive one-day course looks at the genre of memoir and explores the ways we mine memories to bring our own lives to the page.  This course begins from the stepping off point that we are all creative. By immersing ourselves in the moment and giving ourselves permission to write, our own individual stories take shape.  Kathy Donaghy is a journalist and author, living and working in Inishowen, County Donegal. Her debut novel Finding My Wild was published in 2013. She is a regular contributor and columnist with the Irish Independent. She also writes for Lonely Planet and Sunday Miscellany and runs creative writing courses with the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin.

Featuring Liz Weir, Vicky Mcfarland and Anne Harper. In this newly commissioned piece merging words and music, let yourself be wrapped in tales of land, birth, death, magic and madness.  Through a blend of storytelling, live music and visual imagery, this unique collaboration brings together internationally celebrated storyteller Liz Weir MBE, pioneer in immersive storytelling, Vicky McFarland who blends live performance with digital technology, and composer and harpist Anne Harper.  Cloak of Wisdom promises to be a transformative experience, sparking discussion and inviting audiences to rethink their understanding of the feminine story.  Lunch is included in the ticket price and will be provided by the wonderful homeplace café. grab your tickets quick as we have limited seating in the strand room for what promises to be a fantastic afternoon.

With Carol O' Doherty and Patricia Broderick A story is always better if you have someone to share it with and what better spot to meet and share stories than HomePlace? Join Carol and Patricia for this relaxed and friendly book club. Meeting monthly, the Club will choose accessible and entertaining books relating to themes found in Seamus Heaney's work. Come along for a cup of tea, entertaining conversation and shared love of a good book! September's book will be 'At the Edge of the Orchard' by Tracy Chevalier.

Come for the poetry, stay for the tea! Step into the world of Seamus Heaney with our special Afternoon Tea at HomePlace experience! Explore our award-winning exhibition, where the life, literature, and inspiration of one of Ireland’s greatest poets are brought vividly to life. Let Heaney’s own distinctive voice guide you as you wander through the exhibition, discovering the people and places that shaped him as a young boy and inspired his journey to becoming a Nobel Laureate. See rare manuscripts and personal artefacts, including his school desk from Anahorish Primary School and the fax machine that delivered the news of his Nobel Prize win in 1995. After your visit, indulge in a scrumptious afternoon tea, freshly prepared by the HomePlace Café - recently named one of The Guardian’s Top 50 Best Museum Cafés in the UK. Enjoy a delicious selection of scones, sandwiches, pastries, and buns, served with your choice of tea. DATES & TIMES: Monday 14th – Saturday 19th July: 11:00am – 3:00pm Sunday 20th July: 1:00pm – 3:00pm PRICE: £30 per person Advance booking is essential – please reserve your place at least 48 hours in advance to allow us time to prepare. Kindly inform us of any dietary requirements when booking.

Frankly, the highly anticipated memoir of Nicola Sturgeon, recounts her journey from her working-class roots in Ayrshire to the forefront of Scottish politics as the country’s first female - and longest-serving - First Minister. During her time in office she tackled complex challenges including the Scottish Independence Referendum, Brexit, the Covid pandemic, and much more. As leader of the SNP, she worked with five British prime ministers, from David Cameron to Rishi Sunak. In this special event marking the Northern Ireland launch of her revealing new memoir, _Frankly,_ expect a candid discussion about the mistakes, trials, and achievements in Sturgeon's personal life and career, her interactions with figures - Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, and Alex Salmond – and the challenges of being a woman in a high-stakes political arena. Photo credit: Charlotte Hayden

Join us this summer in the Creative Zone for a colourful workshop inspired by the poetry of Seamus Heaney and the striking landscape art of his friend Colin Middleton. Explore Middleton’s world through acrylics and create your own unique landscape painting, inspired by Heaney’s evocative lines. Suitable for ages 11-14 Landscape images will be provided but feel free to bring your own favourite photo or printout.