Legendary poet visits St Leonards

Published on isbi School News dated Saturday 8th of May 2010

Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney has recently appeared at St Leonards School in St Andrews as part of StAnza 2010, Scotland's international poetry festival.

Heaney, arguably the best known poet in the English speaking world, was giving an intimate reading of his work to a dozen lucky attendees who had managed to secure tickets.

StAnza Education Assistant John Taylor, also Head of English at St Leonards, said "The poems, relating Roman mythology to the birth of his granddaughter, were beautiful and sparked reflective discussion among the small audience on the relation of myth to real life, on the 'sparkling' quality of Heaney's work and on poems about his childhood. Heaney's canny personality really shone through the event as he regaled stories of readings and amusing occasions, making the reading, funny, and incredibly enjoyable."

estival Director, Brian Johnstone, said, "We were delighted to collaborate with St Leonards School to present this intimate reading in the wonderful venue of the School's green room. Seamus Heaney's appearance at StAnza has been the highlight of the festival this year and I feel sure his intimate reading will be remembered by all attending for a very long time."

For more on StAnza 2010, go to http://www.stanzapoetry.org.

The photo shows Seamus Heaney in the grounds of St Leonards.