Funeral Of Seamus Heaney Held

The funeral of poet Seamus Heaney has taken place at Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook.

President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Brian Friel joined his widow Marie and children Michael, Christopher and Catherine Ann for the funeral mass of the writer, who died unexpectedly in a Dublin hospital on Friday. He was 74.

One of Mr Heaney's own poems, the Given Note, was read at the end of the service.

The acclaimed poet will be buried later today in his native Bellaghy in Co Derry.

On Sunday night, more than 1,000 people attended the church in Donnybrook where the poet's remains were brought. His widow, Marie, led mourners at the hour-long service.

Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, paid tribute to the poet, calling him a "great man, always a man of kindness".

Irish government ministers and leading figures from the arts sector were also at the service.

On Saturday evening, a celebration of the poet's life was held in Belfast's Lyric theatre and was packed to capacity as many of the poets' well-known works were recited to the audience.

Books of condolences are being opened in Belfast and Dublin today, while a book of condolence opened at the Guildhall in Derry on Saturday.

In 1995, Heaney was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature "for works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth, which exalt everyday miracles and the living past".

(JP/CD)