Main content

Seamus Heaney

Sue Lawley's castaway is Oxford Professor of Poetry Seamus Heaney.

This week's Desert Island Discs castaway is Seamus Heaney, a Catholic Ulsterman who has been acclaimed by many as the best Irish poet since Yeats. He was recently elected Oxford Professor of Poetry, and he'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his idyllic rural childhood as the eldest of nine children, his transition to university life and the sources of his poetic inspiration.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Quartet No 13 in B Flat Major by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
Luxury: Doc Marten boots

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Aug 1990 12:15
麻豆社 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Michael Codron

Next

Lady Mosley

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130

      Orchestra: Alban Berg Quartet

      • Beethoven: The Late Spring Quartets.
      • EMI.

  • Joe Heaney

    An Buinnean Bui

    • Come All Ye Gallant Irishmen.
    • Philo.

  • David Hammond

    My Aunt Jane

    • The Singer's House.
    • Struthan/Mulligan.

  • The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford

    O Lord Give Thy Holy Spirit

    • The English Anthem.
    • Alpha.

  • Jackie MacGowran

    Malone Dies

    • MacGowran Speaking Beckett.
    • Claddagh.

  • Veronica McSwiney

    Nocturne No 1 in E Flat Major

    • John Field Nocturnes.
    • Claddagh.

  • Franz Schubert

    Piano Quintet in A major 'Trout'

    Soloist: Elisabeth Leonskaja

    • Piano Quintet 'The Trout'.
    • HMV.

  • John McCormack

    Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms

    • Favourite Songs.
    • HMV.

  • Book Choice

    • Ulysses - James Joyce

  • Luxury Choice

    • Doc Marten boots

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Seamus Heaney

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Nov 1989 12:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Fri 24 Nov 1989 09:05
    麻豆社 Radio 4
  • Sun 26 Aug 1990 12:15
    麻豆社 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast