The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast

In this episode, we join Sharon Dempsey, Niamh McCann, and Emma Devlin, as they catch up to discuss their PhDs, read some works-in-progress, and share their experiences returning to in-person academia after lockdown. In recent episodes, we've been hearing from some of our students in a series of pilot programmes, each a little different, to reflect the range of writing and conversations about writing that go on in the Centre. This is ‘The Edit'. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced by Suzi Bloom and features original music by Conor McCafferty. With thanks as always to our guest writers, and to our students for initiating this series of pilot programmes.

The Write Night Podcast is a new regular series from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast, adapted from Andrew Rahal's popular pandemic newsletter. His is a voice in the void, sharing moments of reflection and insight into a writing life. In this episode, originally published on the 10th of February 2021, Andrew asks us to consider the people we write to, and those we write for.  The Write Night Podcast is written and hosted by Andrew Rahal, and produced by  Conor McCafferty, Dara McWade and Rachel Brown, with music by Connie Gavin. If you would like to join the Write Night Family, you can sign up for the newsletter at our website, https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/seamus-heaney-centre/.  Thank you for listening. 

The Write Night Podcast is a new regular series from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast, adapted from Andrew Rahal's popular pandemic newsletter. His is a voice in the void, sharing moments of reflection and insight into a writing life. In this episode, originally published on the 2nd of February 2021, Andrew discusses the pandemic's effects on writing communities, and the centrality of the Writer's Workshop.   The Write Night Podcast is written and hosted by Andrew Rahal, and produced by  Conor McCafferty, Dara McWade and Rachel Brown, with music by Connie Gavin. If you would like to join the Write Night Family, you can sign up for the newsletter at our website, https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/seamus-heaney-centre/.  Thank you for listening. 

The Write Night Podcast is a new regular series from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast, adapted from Andrew Rahal's popular pandemic newsletter. His is a voice in the void, sharing moments of reflection and insight into a writing life. In this episode, originally published on the 16th April, 2021, Andrew discusses Death, and the ways writers have dealt with it in their work.    The Write Night Podcast is written and hosted by Andrew Rahal, and produced by  Conor McCafferty, Dara McWade and Rachel Brown, with music by Connie Gavin. If you would like to join the Write Night Family, you can sign up for the newsletter at our website, https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/seamus-heaney-centre/.  Thank you for listening. 

This Summer School Showcase is hosted by Elizabeth McIntosh, with some words of introduction from Seamus Heaney Chair of Poetry, Nick Laird. It features short readings from:  Sara Falkstad, Steven Blythe, Isobel Jane, Jess McKinney, Lucy Duggan, Ashley Elizabeth Best, Rebecca K Morrison, Lynda Hewitt, Elizabeth McGeown, Daniel Bresland, and Bernie Crawford.  The episode was produced by Conor McCafferty and Rachel Brown, with thanks to Nick Boyle for his music. Special thanks to all our summer school poets.

The Write Night Podcast is a new regular series from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast, adapted from Andrew Rahal's popular pandemic newsletter. His is a voice in the void, sharing moments of reflection and insight into a writing life. In this episode, originally published on the 13th October 2020, Andrew discusses the Autumn, and its presence in works of prose and poetry both.  The Write Night Podcast is written and hosted by Andrew Rahal, and produced by  Conor McCafferty, Dara McWade and Rachel Brown, with music by Connie Gavin. If you would like to join the Write Night Family, you can sign up for the newsletter at our website, https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/seamus-heaney-centre/.  Thank you for listening. 

The Write Night Podcast is a new regular series from the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University Belfast, adapted from Andrew Rahal's popular pandemic newsletter. His is a voice in the void, sharing moments of reflection and insight into a writing life.  In this episode, Andrew celebrates the library.  The Write Night Podcast is written and hosted by Andrew Rahal, and produced by  Conor McCafferty, Dara McWade and Rachel Brown, with music by Connie Gavin. Special thanks to the unknown pianist in Belfast Central Library. If you would like to join the Write Night Family, you can sign up for the newsletter at our website, https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/seamus-heaney-centre/ .  Thank you for listening. 

In the second of our two special showcase episodes, we hear short excerpts of new work by a few of our students on the Masters in Creative Writing programme. Please note there will be some strong language and adult themes from the outset. With excerpts from: The Same Little Breaks in Your Soul by Rebecca Brown, as read by Abigail McGibbon.  Here Lies Jeff by Carolina Garrigo Stage Directions - Anna Healy Dow  Jeff - Thomas Finnegan   Manny  - Jo Dow  Mel - Abigail McGibbon  Spontaneously Floating by Rachel Hynds Stage Directions - Jo Dow Rebekah - Abigail McGibbon Poppy - Anna Healy Dow The Storm by Margaret Doyle, as read by Abigail McGibbon. Mum and Dad by Dara McWade, an excerpt from the play Pieces Mum - Anna Healy Dow Dad - Jow Dow The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. This episode was produced and edited by Dara McWade, Craig Jackson and Conor McCafferty. It was recorded at the Sonic Arts Research Centre at Queens. The actors throughout were Jow Dow, Abigail McGibbon, Thomas Finnegan and Anna Healy Dow, with direction by Dara McWade. Thanks, as always, to our writers, and to Nick Boyle for his music. Special thanks to Creative Writing lecturer Michael West. 

In the first of our two special showcase episode, we hear short excerpts of new work by a few of our students on the Masters in Creative Writing programme. Please note there is some strong language from the outset.  With excerpts from:  Wedding Exes by Ross McDonald,  Phoebe - Abigail McGibbon Mason - Thomas Finnegan Big Fish, Little Fish by Megan McGarrity, as read by Anna Healy Dow. Virgins in Purple (VIPs) by Elaine Columb Stage Directions - Jo Dow Sadie - Abigail McGibbon Oonagh - Anna Healy Dow Barra/Lad - Thomas McGibbon An Untitled Extract from Carey Brown, as read by Anna Healy Dow. The Inaudible Treading of Ducks by Andrew Comiskey, as read by Jo Dow. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. This episode was produced and edited by Dara McWade, Craig Jackson and Conor McCafferty. It was recorded at the Sonic Arts Research Centre at Queens. The actors throughout were Jow Dow, Abigail McGibbon, Thomas Finnegan and Anna Healy Dow, with direction by Dara McWade. Thanks, as always, to our writers, and to Nick Boyle for his music. Special thanks to Creative Writing lecturer Michael West. 

The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced by Conor McCafferty, with music by Nick Boyle, and editorial support by Dara McWade. Marian Keyes was a Seamus Heaney Centre Fellow alongside playwright and director Enda Walsh, and artist and author Oliver Jeffers. 

In recent episodes, we've been hearing from some of our students in a series of pilot programmes, each a little different, to reflect the range of writing and conversations about writing that go on in the Centre. This is ‘The Edit'. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced, and featured original music by Conor McCafferty. With thanks as always to our guest writers, and to our students for initiating this series of pilot programmes.

In recent episodes, we've been hearing from some of our students in a series of pilot programmes, each a little different, to reflect the range of writing and conversations about writing that go on in the Centre. This is ‘The Edit'. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced, and featured original music by Conor McCafferty. With thanks as always to our guest writers, and to our students for initiating this series of pilot programmes.

The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced, and featured original music by Conor McCafferty, with theme music by Nick Boyle.  With thanks as always to our guest writers and to Conor and Nick for their music.

Over the next few episodes, we'll be hearing from some of our students in a series of pilot programmes, each a little different, to reflect the range of writing and conversations about writing that go on in the Centre. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced, and featured original music by Conor McCafferty. With thanks as always to our guest writers, and to our students for initiating this series of pilot programmes.

This is ‘The Edit', featuring Sharon Dempsey, Emma Devlin, and Niamh McCann. Over the next few episodes, we'll be hearing from some of our students in a series of pilot programmes, each a little different, to reflect the range of writing and conversations about writing that goes on in the Centre. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. It was produced, and featured original music by Conor McCafferty. With thanks as always to our guest writers.

The archive recordings were selected from the Seamus Heaney Centre's audio collection, and featured music by Ciaran and Deirdre Carson, and Padraigin Ni Uallachain, and words from Seamus Heaney and Ciaran himself. With additional readings from Milena Williamson, Dane Holt and Stephen Sexton. Poems by Ciaran Carson are used by kind permission of The Gallery Press and the Estate of Ciaran Carson. With thanks as always to our guest writers, to Padraigin Ni Uallachain, the Heaney family, the Gallery Press, Gail McConnell, and to Paul Maddern for first collecting these recordings. Special thanks to Deirdre Carson, and the Carson family. 

Gerry read the following poems: ‘The Clock on a Wall of Farringdon Gardens, August 1971', ‘Safe Houses', ‘Child of the Empire', ‘Refugees', ‘Quartz', ‘The Jazz Club', ‘Fellow Travellers' and ‘Selfies'. Gerald Dawe is Professor of English and Fellow Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin, and was founder director of Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre (1998-2015). His poetry is published by The Gallery Press. The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room (and during these times of quarantine, in a series of small back rooms) by Stephen Sexton and Rachel Brown. This episode was produced, and featured original music by Conor McCafferty. Thanks as always to our guest writers, and to Nick Boyle for his title music.

Featuring new work by Genevieve Stevens, Steven Blythe, Alanna Offield, Kevin O'Farrell, Grace Tower, Lorraine Carey, Tim Dwyer, Rebecca Farmer, Sinead Nolan, Iain Whiteley, Rachel Donati, Julia Wieting, Tom Day, Dide, Stephanie Green, and Erin Vance. With a personal note from Nick Laird.  The Seamus Heaney Poetry Summer School is an annual intensive week of study for emerging poets, hosted by the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's, and led by Professor Nick Laird.  The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, and Rachel Brown. This episode was produced by Conor McCafferty. Thanks as always to our writers, and to Nick Boyle for his music.

With excerpts from: The Hobbyist by Will Reade The Farm by Aisling Daly Angels of Montmartre by Oisin Colligan A Commercial Break by Stephen Brown Left Them Crying by Daniel Paton A Day's Too Long by Anne Bodel The Beard by Hasan Shah The Last Policeman by Sionnán Ní Nualláin The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is created in a small back room (and during these times of quarantine, in a series of small back rooms) by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, and Rachel Brown. This episode was produced by Conor McCafferty. The actors throughout were Jo Dow and Anna Healey, recorded in their homes during the lockdown of spring 2020, with thanks to our lecturer in Creative Writing Michael West. Thanks as always to our writers, and to Nick Boyle for his music. Special thanks to the Queen's Annual Fund. 

The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is produced in a small back room by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, and Rachel Brown. With thanks to our producer Chantal Ailsby, and to Nick Boyle for his music. This is one of a series of masterclasses with novelists, poets, playwrights and screenwriters, designed to support a life of writing. Special thanks to the Queen's Annual Fund. Jed Mercurio is one of the few British screenwriters to work as a showrunner. His most recent productions, Bodyguard and Line of Duty, have broken audience records in the UK. His other credits include Lady Chatterley's Lover, Critical, Strike Back, Bodies, The Grimleys and Cardiac Arrest. He is a former hospital physician and Royal Air Force officer, having originally planned to specialise in aviation medicine. Line of Duty and Bodies are both winners of the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series; Line of Duty won the 2018 Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Drama Series and Mercurio won Best Writer. The first four seasons of Line of Duty have so far been nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards. Mercurio is a four-time nominee as Best Drama Writer for both the Royal Television Society and Writers' Guild of Great Britain.

The Seamus Heaney Centre Podcast is produced in a small back room by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, and Rachel Brown. With thanks to our producer Chantal Ailsby, and to Nick Boyle for his music. This is one of a series of masterclasses with novelists, poets, playwrights and screenwriters, designed to support a life of writing. Special thanks to the Queen's Annual Fund.  Lucy Caldwell (b. 1981, Belfast) is the multi–award winning author of three novels, several stage plays and radio dramas and, most recently, two collections of short stories: Multitudes (Faber, 2016) and Intimacies (forthcoming, Faber, 2020). She is also the editor of Being Various: New Irish Short Stories (Faber, 2019). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018.  Awards include the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, the George Devine Award, the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Imison Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Award, the Irish Writers' and Screenwriters' Guild Award, the Commonwealth Writers' Award (Canada & Europe), the Edge Hill Short Story Prize Readers' Choice Award, a Fiction Uncovered Award, a K. Blundell Trust Award and a Major Individual Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. 

In this special episode, Rachel talks to songwriter and producer Iain Archer, and writer for stage and screen, Lisa McGee.  Iain is a Grammy nominated musician, with two Ivor Novello Awards under his belt. He has written and produced for artists such as Snow Patrol, Jake Bugg, Liam Gallagher and James Bay, as well as his critically acclaimed solo career.    Lisa McGee is a stage and screen writer, (and graduate of Queen's University Belfast). As well as her award-winning plays, Lisa writes frequently for television. She is the writer and creator of hit Channel 4 sitcom's London Irish and Derry Girls. They were both SHC Fellows in 2019 along with Lucy Caldwell. 

Mayonnaise Like This, by Mahon McCann was written, produced, edited, and directed as part of Queen's University Belfast's MA in Creative Writing, Page to Stage module. The module is taught by Tim Loane.  Thomas Finnegan - Georgie Gerard McCabe - Tony Susan Davies - Katie Cathy Brennan - Katie's Mother Megan McGarry - Shana Peter Gilroy - Jimmy Comhgall McKeating - Teacher Aniskaa Rajasagaran - Lecturer Mahon McCann - Police/bouncer   Maisie Linford - Producer Aniskaa Rajasagaran - Producer Michael J Daly - Director Holly Yates - Director Comhgall McKeating - Story Editor Xuejing Wang - Sound Editor 

In this light-headed summer solstice episode, Stephen Sexton gives some excellent advice on divining rods, Ian Sansom talks to Aislinn Clarke about the supernatural, and Marcella Prince reads some poems.  It was produced in a small back room by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, and Rachel Brown. With thanks to producers Chantal Ailsby and Toby James, and to Nick Boyle for his music. 

In this labourious bank holiday episode, our regular format takes a day off, giving Ian Sansom more time to talk to Myra Zepf about working with myths and children, and Dawn Watson reads some poems. It was recorded in a small back room by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, and Rachel Brown, with thanks to producers Chantal Ailsby and Toby James, and to Nick Boyle for his music. 

In this serpentine episode, Ian Sansom doesn't talk about snakes with Manuela Moser, Gail McConnell, and Jimmy McAleavey. As far as we can tell, Padraig Regan's poems do not contain snakes.  It was produced in a small back room by Ian Sansom, Stephen Sexton, Rachel Brown, and Chantal Ailsby, with original music and sounds by Nick Boyle and Chantal Ailsby. 

In this amatory episode Ian Sansom talks love songs with Glenn Patterson, Shakespeare's Sonnets with Leontia Flynn, and black masses with Tim Loane. Caitlin Newby reads some love poems, and Ciaran Carson sings a song for a blue-eyed lassie.  Produced in a back room by Stephen Sexton, Ian Sansom, Rachel Brown, and Conor McCafferty. With music by Nicholas Boyle.