BBC NI & RTÉ Celebrates Seamus Heaney | The Irish Film & Television Network

‘Seamus Heaney: A Life in Pictures’ to air on Wednesday, April 15 at 10.45pm on BBC One Northern, will focus on Heaney’s television career. Heaney made his television debut in ‘Door into The Dark’ in 1970 marking one of the first times that a Northern Ireland writer wrote and presented a television programme. During his years on television he became a respected commentator and interviewee on the social and political situation in Northern Ireland. Produced by Stephen Douds and directed by Johnny Muir for BBC NI, contributors to the programme come from those who have worked or have interviewed him including Melvyn Bragg, Kirsty Wark, John Kelly and producer Derek Bailey.

Following this documentary will be the 1999 programme ‘Keeping Time: The Poet and the Piper’ at 11.20pm on BBC One NI. This Hummingbird Production was made in 1999 and was jointly directed by Phillip King & Declan Quinn and produced by Nuala O'Connor & Sarah Power. It features Heaney reading a wide selection of his work accompanied by renowned Uillleann piper Laim O’Flynn.

RTÉ has also announced details of honoring the poet’s birthday. As part of RTÉ’s ‘Heaney At 70’ output and the 'Arts Lives' documentary series - 'Seamus Heaney: Out of the Marvellous', will air on RTÉ One on Tuesday, 14 April at 10.10pm. The Icebox Films Production directed by Charlie McCarthy and produced by Cliona Ni Bhuachalla documents an all embracing portrait of the man and the exploration of the relationships in his life and with his wife Marie.

RTÉ Libraries and Archives will celebrate the life and work of Heaney with a special on-line exhibition profiling his appearances and presenting skills on RTÉ Radio and Television. These recordings from the radio and television archives present a moving portrayal of Heaney through his own words. For full information visit the ‘Heaney At 70’ website at www.rte.ie/heaneyat70 providing access to all the programming.

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