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About
This is a special place. A moving place. An inspirational place.
Seamus Heaney HomePlace takes you on an inspiring journey through the life and work of one of Ireland’s greatest writers.
Situated between Seamus Heaney’s two childhood homes at Mossbawn and The Wood, and only a few hundred yards from St Mary’s Church, Bellaghy, which he chose as his final resting place, HomePlace is at the heart of the area that inspired so much of the poet’s work.
It’s a place where you can sense the warmth of Heaney’s relationships with local people and landscapes; where you can immerse yourself in the Nobel Laureate’s literature.
Seamus Heaney’s distinctive voice guides you through the exhibition as you get to know the people and places that inspired him. Atmospheric video projections and touchscreen displays sit alongside precious items donated by the Heaney family.
Seamus Heaney’s ink-stained wooden desk from Anahorish Primary School, a recreation of his study in Dublin and the fax machine that delivered the news when he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1995, are among the artefacts that transport you to each momentous moment in time.
Check out the AW Programme of events here:
AW Programme
Open Ground
Explore locations linking the landscape and the literature of Seamus Heaney. Venture out to Open Ground, a series of five locations which held great significance for Seamus Heaney.
Discover places that shaped Seamus Heaney’s life and literature — Toomebridge, Magherafelt, Moyola River, Lough Beg and Bellaghy Bawn — and discover the smells, sights and sounds that make his poetry so uniquely of this place.
Seamus Heaney’s roots were in the Bellaghy area and many of his poems are equally rooted in these places. Throughout his career, he regularly drew upon the loughs, rivers and bogs he visited in his formative years.
Many of these places are unchanged and unspoilt since the time Heaney wrote about them, allowing you to see them for yourself through the poet’s eyes. Read Heaney’s work in the context in which it was inspired and see how the places of Open Ground are reflected in his writing.
Winner of NI’s Most Innovative Business (Large) at Tourism Northern Ireland's Giant Spirit Awards 2022.
Book Tickets
Facilities
Accessibility
- Toilets for disabled visitors
Attraction Facilities
- Gift Shop
- Guided Tours Available
Catering
- Cater for vegetarians
- Licensed
- Restaurant on Premises
- Serve breakfast
- Serve lunch
- Special dietary requirements catered for
- Tea-room/Cafe onsite
Children & Infants
- Accept children (Minimum age)
- Baby changing facilities
- Children's Menu Available
- Facilities for children
- Highchairs Available
Establishment Features
- Accept coach parties
- Accommodation nearby
- Cater for Corporate events
- Cater for individuals
- Cater for school groups
- Conference facilities
- Event venue
- Family Fun
- First Aid
- Gift vouchers
- Groups accepted
- Groups catered for
- Online Booking
- Self guided walks/cycle rides
- Shop
- Talks
- Toilets
- Visitor information
- Wi-fi available
- Workshop
Event Facilities
- Booking Required
Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Parking & Transport
- Car parking
- Coach parking
- Frequent bus services
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
- Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
Payment Methods
- All major credit/debit cards accepted
Travel & Trade
- Family Discount
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.00 activity |
| Concession | £6.50 activity |
| Child (8-16) | £6.50 activity |
| Child (under 7) | Free |
| Family (2 adults 3 children) | £24.00 activity |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Explore More
Bellaghy Bawn, BellaghyBuilt around 1619 by Sir Baptist Jones, Bellaghy Bawn is a fortified house and bawn (the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house).
Church Island on Lough Beg, BellaghyChurch Island is a small island on Lough Beg - 1.5 miles from Bellaghy. On a visit to the island you will discover the ruins of an old church with no spire.
Events
Saturday, 14th December 2024 - Saturday, 14th December 2024
Christmas at the HomePlace HearthWonderful readings, music and craic: four talented friends reunite for a return visit to the Helicon for what should prove to be one of the highlights of the winter calendar.- more info
Saturday, 14th December 2024 - Saturday, 14th December 2024
Open Ground Guided ExperienceOur Open Ground Guided tour experience allows you to journey through this landscape with the assistance of our knowledgeable team. You'll become acquainted with the same lanes, roads and paths that a young Seamus Heaney travelled on and through our informative guides, you'll hear how each of these…- more info
Video
- Journey to Seamus Heaney HomePlace – read by Liam Neeson
