As part of The Seamus Heaney Centre's Digging at 60 conference, we are holding a free workshop, led by Vincent Kinnaird and Conall McCauley

In 1966, Seamus Heaney published Death of a Naturalist, the collection that would launch his career and establish him firmly in the public eye as a poet of place whose local accents and autobiographical bent marked a new direction in twentieth century Irish poetry. In the same year, Heaney accepted a lectureship at his alma mater, Queen’s University Belfast, and made his first appearance on Ireland’s Late Late show, reading Blackberry Picking and gaining a mass audience thanks to the power of broadcast media.

Few poets have received such close scholarly scrutiny during their lifetimes, and interest in Heaney’s work has not waned in the years since his passing. Many scholars interested in breaking new ground are now returning to archival sources to add context and glean further insight into his prolific career.

To mark this anniversary the Seamus Heaney Centre, in partnership with the National Library of Ireland, Emory Rose Library, and Queen’s University’s Special Collections, are hosting Digging at 60: From the Archives to explore aspects of Heaney’s early career, first collection, and broadcast paratexts.

Vincent and Conall make films and love delving in archives to find materials to make new stories. Through digital and analogue demonstrations, and insights into some archives you can draw from, we hope that participants in this workshop will leave with new ideas to begin or complete their film projects.

Previous experience is not necessary, but an interest in storytelling through film is required. We particularly welcome students or artists beginning their journey in film making.

Vincent Kinnaird is a prize winning director, producer & writer, with a lifetime of experience working in film, television and digital industries. Starting as runner and working through all disciplines of production on film, TV drama, commercials, documentaries and programmes, he has on set experience with Ken Loach (Carla's Song, 1995) and Richard Attenborough (Puckoon, 2000).

This workshop is part of the second day of the conference. If you want to attend the conference, please register for each day. If you also want to attend the workshop, please register separately.

Description supplied by the event organiser.