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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Ciarán Hinds will bring Seamus Heaney’s words to life
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kilkenny Arts Festival, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra return to Kilkenny to perform Sweeney - a song cycle based on Heaney’s poem Sweeney Astray.
Heaney’s poem is a version of the 7th Century Irish saga, Buile Shuibhne, a poem about the clash between the natural and man-made world, and the role of race, religion and family, that still speaks to us today.
Composed by Neil Martin and conducted by David Brophy, with vocals from Iarla Ó Lionáird and narration by Ciarán Hinds, Sweeney brings Heaney’s words to life alongside the full orchestra.
Broadcaster John Kelly will interview Neil Martin before the show begins.
In addition, Kilkenny Arts Festival will present a three-part series of discussions and readings from some of Heaney’s celebrated translations in the Parade Tower. This series of discussions will see leading contemporary poets and academics explore some of Heaney's most celebrated translations.
Vona Groarke will join Olivia O’Leary on August 14 to talk about The Testament of Cresseid, Heaney’s version of Robert Henryson’s tragic poem about Troilus and Criseyde, set in the aftermath of the Trojan War.
Mary Clayton will consider his retelling of one of the masterpieces of world literature, Beowulf, with Olivia O’Leary on August 16.
Gallery Press founder Peter Fallon – a lifelong friend of Seamus Heaney – will delve into The Midnight Verdict with Olivia O’Leary on August 18.
For more see kilkennyarts.ie
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