Press release
Statement by Minister O’Donovan on the death of Michael Longley
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport has expressed his sadness at the news of the death of Michael Longley.
“With the death of Michael Longley, Ireland has lost one of its most renowned and revered poets. With Seamus Heaney, Derek Mahon, Eavan Boland and others, he was part of a special generation of poets who emerged in the 1960s. Born in Belfast, educated in Trinity College, and with a near lifetime of association with Carrigskeewaun in Mayo, Michael was of all of Ireland.
"Michael rightly received many accolades and awards over the years for his poetry including the Wilfred Owen Award, the Whitbread Prize and the Irish Times Irish Literature Prize for Poetry. He was a member of Aosdána and played a critical role in the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for many years.
“His best known poem Ceasefire came at a critical moment in the Peace Process. As ever with Michael’s work, this examined the human dimension of the political challenges, distilling perfectly the forbearance needed to break the cycle of sacrifice. My deepest condolences to his wife Edna, his children and family, and to his many friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”