Top
Skip to Content
LOGO(small) - Queen's University Belfast
  • Our facebook
  • Our instagram
  • Our x-twitter
LOGO(large) - Queen's University Belfast

The Seamus Heaney Centre

  • Home
  • About
    • The Centre
    • The Blackbird
    • The Heaney Community
    • Literary Belfast
    • Collections at the Seamus Heaney Centre
  • Our People
    • The SHC Fellows
    • Ciaran Carson & Publishing Fellows
    • Fulbright Scholars
    • Children's Writing Fellow
    • Visiting International Poetry Fellows
    • Ireland Chair of Poetry
  • Study
    • The Poetry Summer School
    • Student Showcases and Opportunities
    • Writing Groups
    • New Students...
    • SHC X Fighting Words
    • Hear from Alumni
  • First Collection Poetry Prize
    • Poetry Prize 2025
    • Poetry Prize 2024
    • Poetry Prize 2023
    • Poetry Prize 2022
    • Poetry Prize 2021
    • Poetry Prize 2020
  • Resources
    • The SHC Podcast
    • SHC Publications
    • Criticism & Ideas on Writing
    • Films & Virtual Events
    • Writers' Interviews
    • Tiny Masterclasses
  • News
  • Events
    • SHC Presents...
    • Ekphrasis: Writing & Art
    • Conferences
    • Reading Seamus Heaney
    • Translation
  • Home
  • About
    • The Centre
    • The Blackbird
    • The Heaney Community
    • Literary Belfast
    • Collections at the Seamus Heaney Centre
  • Our People
    • The SHC Fellows
    • Ciaran Carson & Publishing Fellows
    • Fulbright Scholars
    • Children's Writing Fellow
    • Visiting International Poetry Fellows
    • Ireland Chair of Poetry
  • Study
    • The Poetry Summer School
    • Student Showcases and Opportunities
    • Writing Groups
    • New Students...
    • SHC X Fighting Words
    • Hear from Alumni
  • First Collection Poetry Prize
    • Poetry Prize 2025
    • Poetry Prize 2024
    • Poetry Prize 2023
    • Poetry Prize 2022
    • Poetry Prize 2021
    • Poetry Prize 2020
  • Resources
    • The SHC Podcast
    • SHC Publications
    • Criticism & Ideas on Writing
    • Films & Virtual Events
    • Writers' Interviews
    • Tiny Masterclasses
  • News
  • Events
    • SHC Presents...
    • Ekphrasis: Writing & Art
    • Conferences
    • Reading Seamus Heaney
    • Translation
  • Our facebook
  • Our instagram
  • Our x-twitter
In This Section

  • Home
  • Seamus Heaney Centre
  • News

News

Exterior of the Seamus Heaney Centre
Poetry Scholarships at Queen's
1 May, 2025

Three scholarships are available for those applying to the MA in Poetry: Creativity and Criticism in the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s University Belfast.

Adrian Dunbar gifts ‘Happenstance’ to the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s
10 April, 2025

The Seamus Heaney Centre joins the family and friends of Michael Longley in mourning his passing.
23 January, 2025

Queen's appoints three new fellows at the Seamus Heaney Centre for 2024/25

Susannah Dickey wins the inaugural PEN Heaney Prize

English PEN, together with Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann and the Estate of Seamus Heaney, tonight announced Susannah Dickey’s ISDAL (Picador Poetry) as the winner of the inaugural PEN Heaney Prize.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
English PEN announces the shortlist for the inaugural PEN Heaney Prize 2024
5 November, 2024

The winner of this year’s PEN Heaney Prize will be announced on 2 December 2024 at a ceremony held at the Great Hall, Queen’s University, Belfast, in partnership with the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s.

Inside the Seamus Heaney Centre
American writers flourish at Queen's University Belfast’s Seamus Heaney Centre
GENERAL | 23 October, 2024

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast is a vibrant hub for emerging writers and literary talent – helping to shape the next generation of storytellers.

Expression of Interest invited for Ciaran Carson Writing and the City and Publishing Fellowships
17 October, 2024

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s hosts annual Fellowships in memory of its first director, Ciaran Carson, and inspired by his writing about the city of Belfast in prose as well as poetry.

Queen’s and TCD collaborate on new digital archive capturing the artistic legacy of the Irish border
25 September, 2024

A new digital archive capturing the artistic legacy of the Irish border has recently been launched by academics from Queen’s and Trinity College Dublin.

Queen’s announces Fiona Benson, Jan Carson, Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson as Seamus Heaney Fellows.
23 September, 2024

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointments of Fiona Benson, Jan Carson, and Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson as the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows for 2024-25.

Introducing Reading Seamus Heaney at the Seamus Heaney Centre

To celebrate the opening of our landmark new building, the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s has planned a year-long series of free, public events for people with an interest in the poet’s work.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Writers at the Seamus Heaney Centre mourn the passing of Edna O'Brien and Eibhear Walshe.
29 July, 2024

Queen’s announce David Nash as winner of the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2024
27 June, 2024

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast announce David Nash as the winner of the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2024, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Poetry Prize 2024 Shortlist
Queen's announces shortlist for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2024
27 May, 2024

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Poetry Prize for a First Collection, supported by Atlantic Philanthropies.

Shirley-Anne McMillan announced as the new Children’s Writing Fellow for NI
5 March, 2024

The Fellowship was created as part of Queen’s University Belfast and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's (ACNI) joint ten-year Seamus Heaney Legacy project supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Queen’s announces the Seamus Heaney Centre’s latest Fellowships for 2024
22 January, 2024

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointment of Mícheál McCann as their new Publishing Fellow, and Sharon Dempsey and Charles Lang as the new Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellows for 2024.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
The Seamus Heaney Centre joins the family and friends of Tom Quinlan in mourning his passing.
19 January, 2024

Queen’s announces Stacey Gregg, Lisa O’Neill, and David Park as Seamus Heaney Fellows for 2023-24.
31 October, 2023

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointments of Stacey Gregg, Lisa O’Neill, and David Park as the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows for 2023-24.

Chuck Feeney, founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, dies at the age of 92.
10 October, 2023

The Seamus Heaney Centre joins the family and friends of Chuck Feeney, founder of the Atlantic Philanthropies, in mourning his passing.

Michael Hofmann is appointed Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow at Queen’s
4 September, 2023

Award-winning poet Michael Hofmann has been appointed as the fourth Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast.

Marking ten years since the death of Nobel-Prize-winning poet, and Queen's graduate, Seamus Heaney

The Seamus Heaney Centre joins the family and friends of Seamus Heaney, the lovers of his poetry the world over, in marking with affection as well as sadness this, the tenth anniversary of his so-sudden passing.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Last Night's Fun: a conference and commemoration for Professor Ciaran Carson
28 August, 2023

We are pleased to invite you all to register for Last Night's Fun: a conference and commemoration for our colleague Professor Ciaran Carson on Wed 13 - Sat 16 Sep 2023. 

Queen’s announce new landmark venue for the Seamus Heaney Centre

Announcing the winner of the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2023
26 June, 2023

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast announce Mark Pajak as the winner of the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2023, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Announcing the shortlist for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2023.
18 May, 2023

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for our 2023 Poetry Prize for a First Collection, supported by Atlantic Philanthropies.

BBC Storytellers: Seamus Heaney Centre special episodes
27 March, 2023

We are delighted to collaborate once again with BBC Radio Ulster with a series of six special episodes of their Short Works programme, featuring new writing by students from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's.

VERSschmuggel - reVERSible Belfast-Berlin
23 March, 2023

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University, Belfast is delighted to be partnering with Haus für Poesie, Berlin on an exciting new translation project, with the support of the British Council's International Collaboration Grants.

Queen’s announces the Seamus Heaney Centre’s latest Fellowships for 2023
8 February, 2023

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointment of Dr Dane Holt as their new Publishing Fellow, and Dr Milena Williamson as the new Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellow for 2023.

NI Children’s Writing Fellow calls out to schools to explore visual literacy
26 January, 2023

One year on from taking up the position of Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland, Paul Howard is on a mission to inspire creativity and the joy of books among as many young readers as possible.

Students laughing doing a podcast
BBC Storytellers: Seamus Heaney Centre special episodes
22 January, 2023

We are delighted to collaborate once again with BBC Radio Ulster with a series of six special episodes of their Short Works programme, featuring new writing by students from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's.

Creating a World Without Violence Against Women & Girls: The Role of the Arts
25 November, 2022

We are pleased to announce that the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s will host an international conference in November on the role of creative activism in ending violence against women and girls.

Queen’s announces Roddy Doyle, Kae Tempest and Conor Mitchell as Seamus Heaney Fellow’s for 2022-23.
6 October, 2022

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointments of Roddy Doyle, Kae Tempest and Conor Mitchell as the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellow’s for 2022-23.

Jane Hirshfield is appointed Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow at Queen’s
21 September, 2022

Award-winning poet Jane Hirshfield has been appointed as the third Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast.

Announcing the winner for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2022. 
23 June, 2022

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the winner of their 2022 Poetry Prize for a First Collection, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Announcing the shortlist for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2022. 
1 June, 2022

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the shortlist for their 2022 Poetry Prize for a First Collection, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Gail McConnell wins the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize for her collection The Sun is Open.
12 April, 2022

The 27th Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize, worth £7,500,  has been won by Gail McConnell for her book of poetry, The Sun Is Open, published by Penned in the Margins.

Gail McConnell wins the Pollard International Poetry Prize for her collection The Sun is Open.
12 April, 2022

Gail McConnell has been announced as the winner of the 2022 John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize for her debut book The Sun is Open at an award ceremony in Trinity College Dublin on Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Children’s Writing Fellow for NI honored by Duchesses of Cambridge’s CBeebies Bedtime Read
8 February, 2022

Paul Howard, the illustrator behind the much loved children’s classic, The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, has spoken of his delight upon hearing that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, has chosen the book as the CBeebies Bedtime Story.

Students laughing doing a podcast
BBC Storytellers: students from the Seamus Heaney Centre on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds
28 January, 2022

Every Saturday in February this year, a special series of short stories by students at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's will be aired on BBC Radio Ulster's Storytellers programme. 

Queen’s University Belfast announces the Seamus Heaney Centre’s latest Fellowships for 2022.
21 January, 2022

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast is delighted to announce the appointment of Hilary McCollum as their new Publishing Fellow, and Darren Murphy and Tara McEvoy as the new Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellows for 2022.

Award Winning author and Illustrator announced as New Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland
14 December, 2021

Award-winning author and illustrator Paul Howard has accepted the post as the new Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University Belfast.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Fellowships at the Seamus Heaney Centre
19 November, 2021

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s invites Expressions of Interest from recent graduates of their PhD programme.

SHC Fellows 2021 Announcement
Queen’s announces Wendy Erskine, Denise Riley and Tim Wheeler as next Seamus Heaney Fellows
28 September, 2021

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointment of Wendy Erskine, Denise Riley and Tim Wheeler as the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows for 2021 – 22. 

Students laughing doing a podcast
BBC Storytellers: Seamus Heaney Centre special edition
29 September, 2021

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's are delighted to share news of an exciting collaboration with BBC NI.

Kelly McCaughrain: Notes on a Fellowship
24 August, 2021

Kelly McCaughrain reports on her time as Children's Writing Fellow for NI as her term draws to a close.

Friel Reimagined Student Volunteers
28 July, 2021

Experience theatre from the inside as a Student Volunteer with the Friel Reimagined project.

Sumita Chakraborty
First Collection Poetry Prize 2021 - The Winner
1 July, 2021

Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s announce Sumita Chakraborty as 2021 First Collection Poetry Prize winner.

First Collection Poetry Prize 2021 - The Shortlist
7 June, 2021

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast announce shortlist for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2021.

Michael Longley by Bobbie Hanvey
Queen’s announce scholarship endowment to honour poet Michael Longley CBE and Professor Edna Longley
1 June, 2021

The Honest Ulsterman Revisited, by Professor Frank Ormsby
17 May, 2021

The Ireland Chair of Poetry Trust and the Seamus Heaney Centre are delighted to present 'The Honest Ulsterman Revisited', a lecture by Professor Frank Ormsby.

Books to be gifted ahead of World Book Night 2021
26 March, 2021

To mark this year's World Book Night on Friday 23 April, free copies of Glenn Patterson's latest novel have been gifted to community groups, book clubs and members of the public.

Cathleen Young is announced as the inaugural Fighting Words Writing Fellow.
8 March, 2021

Fighting Words Northern Ireland and Fighting Words recently welcomed Cathleen Young as their inaugural Fighting Words Writing Fellow in association with The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast. 

Tiny Masterclasses: Open Call to Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's students!
26 January, 2021

Our Children's Writing Fellow, Kelly McCaughrain, and Fighting Words NI are making tiny masterclasses to help schools and homeschoolers incorporate creative writing into lessons, and help the next generation of young writers find their words.

Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellowships 2020-21
11 January, 2021

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has appointed Louise Kennedy and Padraig Regan as the inaugural Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellows for 2020-21. 

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Ciaran Carson Writing and the City Fellowships - Expression of Interest
4 December, 2020

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s is creating two, annual Fellowships in memory of its first director, Ciaran Carson, and inspired by his writing about the city of Belfast in prose as well as poetry. 

Open Call to SHC Students!
26 November, 2020

The Seamus Heaney Centre have been invited to create a new weekly radio programme for SARC Radio.

Derek Mahon (1941-2020)
1 October, 2020

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of the Belfast-born poet Derek Mahon.

Poetry Ireland celebrates the life and work of Ciaran Carson
9 October, 2020

The event marks the anniversary of the death of Ciaran Carson, our dear friend and colleague, and one of the preeminent Irish poets of his generation. It features readings and reflections from some of his many friends, fellow writers and musicians.

Announcing the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows 2020-21
2 September, 2020

Queen’s University announce Oliver Jeffers, Marian Keyes, and Enda Walsh as the next Seamus Heaney Fellows

Announcing the Seamus Heaney Centre’s inaugural Publishing Fellowship
24 August, 2020

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast is delighted to announce the appointment of Manuela Moser as their inaugural Publishing Fellow for 2020 – 21.

First Collection Poetry Prize 2020 - The Winner
2 July, 2020

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the winner of the 2020 Poetry Prize for a First Collection, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.  

First Collection Poetry Prize 2020 - The Shortlist
8 June, 2020

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2020 Poetry Prize, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies.

Eavan Boland (1944-2020)
28 April, 2020

We were all, at the Seamus Heaney Centre, deeply saddened to learn of the death yesterday of Eavan Boland. Such a terrible loss of a poet, a person, who had so great an impact on our writing community, on colleagues, friends and students.

Stephen Sexton wins the prestigious EM Forster Award
27 March, 2020

Earlier this month, The American Academy of Arts and Letters announced their prestigious awards in literature. The prizes, totalling $350,000, honour both established and emerging writers of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's is closed until further notice.
23 March, 2020

Queen’s welcomes Fulbright US Scholars to the Seamus Heaney Centre
28 February, 2020

Professor Jenny Browne, from Trinity University, Texas and Professor Greg Winston, Husson University, Maine have taken up post in the Seamus Heaney Centre for the semester.

Seamus Heaney Centre_NYC event
Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's Showcase in New York
29 October, 2019

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast hosted a showcase event on Monday 28 October at the Lotte New York Palace to celebrate fifteen years of the Centre and to introduce new writers and initiatives.  

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Anna Burns, Vahni Capildeo, and Jed Mercurio announced as the next Seamus Heaney Fellows
29 October, 2019

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the appointment of Anna Burns, Vahni Capildeo, and Jed Mercurio as the Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows for 2019 – 20.

Professor Ciaran Carson (9 Oct 1948 - 6 Oct 2019)

Kelly McCaughrain is the new Children’s Writing Fellow for NI at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's
16 August, 2019

First Collection Poetry Prize 2019, and the winner is...
2 July, 2019

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast is delighted to announce the winner of the First Collection Poetry Prize 2019

First Collection Poetry Prize 2019 - The Shortlist
3 June, 2019

Announcing the shortlist for this year's First Collection Poetry Prize 2019.

Nick Laird joins Ian Sansom as Chair of Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's
4 March, 2019

Kathleen Jamie appointed Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow
15 February, 2019

Award-winning Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie has been appointed as the second Seamus Heaney International Visiting Poetry Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast.

American Poet Mark Doty takes up International Visiting Poetry Fellowship at Queen’s University

Award-winning American poet, Mark Doty, has taken up his post as the first International Visiting Poetry Fellow at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast.

First Collection Poetry Prize 2018 Winner Announced

The Seamus Heaney Centre is delighted to announce the winner of this year’s First Collection Poetry Prize is:

Lanyon blue sky green grass
First Collection Poetry Prize 2018 Shortlist Announced

The Seamus Heaney Centre's First Collection Poetry Prize supported by Glucksman Ireland House, NYU

Good Vibrations hits the Lyric Stage in September

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Myra Zepf our Children’s Writing Fellow, sends kids 'Head over Heels' about writing

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
2018 Seamus Heaney Fellows Appointment

The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s has great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Jo Baker, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, and Peter Wilson (who performs as Duke Special) as its first Seamus Heaney Centre Fellows.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Ireland Chair of Poetry Lecture
23 March, 2017

Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Ireland Chair of Poetry

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Blackbird Launch

The Blackbird Anthology has been launched.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Anne Enright: Lecture
20 October, 2016

Anne Enright will give a lecture on Thursday, 20 October at 8pm in the Great Hall, Lanyon Building, Queen's University Belfast.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Jean Bleakney: Book Launch
26 October, 2016

Join us for the launch of Jean Bleakney's Selected Poems.

Lanyon Building at Queen's University Belfast
Winner Announced
30 June, 2016

The Seamus Heaney Centre for poetry prize for first full collection 2016, supported by Glucksman Ireland House, New York University.

Home
  • Home
  • About
  • Our People
  • Study
  • First Collection Poetry Prize
  • Resources
  • News
  • Events
Subscribe to the SHC Newsletter
QUB Logo
Contact Us

Seamus Heaney Centre
38-40 University Road, Belfast
BT7 1NN

GET DIRECTIONS

Phone: 028 9097 1077
Email: shc@qub.ac.uk 

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Study
  • People
  • Literary Belfast
  • News
  • Events

© Queen's University Belfast 2024
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • University Policies and Procedures
Information
  • Privacy and cookies
  • Website accessibility
  • Freedom of information
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • University Policies and Procedures

© Queen's University Belfast 2024

Manage cookies