Michael Longley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Longley
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Longley reading his poetry in 2012
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| Born | 27 July 1939 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 22 January 2025 (aged 85) |
| Education | Royal Belfast Academical Institution |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin (TCD) |
| Notable awards | Whitbread Poetry Prize T. S. Eliot Prize Hawthornden Prize |
Michael George Longley (27 July 1939 – 22 January 2025) was a famous poet from Northern Ireland. He was known for his beautiful and thoughtful poems. Michael Longley once said that writing poems felt like exploring new places. He hoped to find words that would bring light to difficult ideas. After he passed away, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, called him an "amazing poet."
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Life and Career of Michael Longley
Michael Longley was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He had a twin brother, Peter, and an older sister, Wendy. His parents, Richard and Connie, were from London. Michael went to RBAI for school. Later, he studied Classics (ancient Greek and Roman studies) at Trinity College Dublin. While there, he helped edit a student magazine called Icarus.
Poetry Professor and Arts Council Work
From 2007 to 2010, Michael Longley was the Ireland Professor of Poetry. This is a special job that involves teaching and promoting poetry across Ireland. Before him, other well-known poets like John Montague held this role. After teaching for several years in different cities, he worked for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. He was a director there from 1970 to 1991.
The Belfast Group of Poets
Michael Longley was part of a group of poets in Belfast. This group included famous writers like Seamus Heaney, who became a close friend. Other poets in the group were Derek Mahon and Paul Muldoon. Michael's wife, Edna, is also a well-known critic of poetry. They had three children: Rebecca, Daniel, and Sarah.
Famous Poem "Ceasefire"
In 1994, Michael Longley wrote one of his most famous poems, "Ceasefire." He wrote it hoping for peace between different groups in Northern Ireland. The poem was released just one day before a real ceasefire happened. It was inspired by a famous story from the ancient Greek epic Iliad. In that story, King Priam asks the warrior Achilles to return his son's body.
Supporting Classics Education
In 2002, Michael Longley spoke out when Queen's University Belfast decided to stop teaching Classics. He believed that studying ancient cultures was very important. He asked, "Who can bring peace to people who are not civilised?" He felt that understanding history and culture could help people live together peacefully.
Later Life and Legacy
Michael Longley often spent time in Carrigskeewaun, County Mayo, in Ireland. This beautiful place inspired many of his poems. His twin brother, Peter, passed away in 2013 or 2014. Michael dedicated part of his 2014 poetry book, The Stairwell, to his brother.
Michael Longley passed away on 22 January 2025, at the age of 85. His funeral was held in Belfast. Many people, including President Michael D. Higgins, remembered how his poetry touched their lives.
Michael Longley's Books
Michael Longley wrote many collections of poetry throughout his life.
Main Poetry Collections
- 1969: No Continuing City
- 1973: An Exploded View
- 1976: Man Lying on a Wall
- 1979: The Echo Gate
- 1991: Gorse Fires
- 1995: The Ghost Orchid
- 2000: The Weather in Japan
- 2004: Snow Water
- 2011: A Hundred Doors
- 2014: The Stairwell
- 2017: Angel Hill
- 2020: The Candlelight Master
- 2022: The Slain Birds
Selected Poetry Books
- 1981: Selected Poems 1963–1980
- 1985: Poems 1963–1983
- 1998: Selected Poems
- 2006: Collected Poems
- 2024: Ash Keys: New Selected Poems
Other Books and Writings
Michael Longley also published smaller collections and prose (non-poetry) works. Some of these include:
- 1965: Ten Poems
- 1975: Fishing in the Sky: Love Poems
- 1994: Tuppeny Stung: Autobiographical Chapters
- 2003: Cenotaph of Snow: Sixty Poems About War
- 2017: Songs for Dead Children: Poetry in Violent Times
- 2017: Sidelines: Selected Prose
Awards and Special Honours
Michael Longley received many awards for his poetry.
Major Poetry Prizes
- Gorse Fires (1991) won the Whitbread Poetry Prize.
- The Weather in Japan (2000) won the T. S. Eliot Prize and the Hawthornden Prize.
- In 2001, he received the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry.
- His book A Hundred Doors won the Poetry Now Award in 2012.
- The Stairwell (2014) won the International Griffin Poetry Prize in 2015.
Other Recognitions
- In 2010, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- In 2015, he received the Ulster Tatler Lifetime Achievement Award.
- He won the PEN Pinter Prize in 2017. The judges praised his poetry for being full of "humanity, humility and compassion."
- In 2015, he was given the special honour of being named a Freeman of the City of Belfast.
- He was also a member of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts.
Honouring His Work
In 2021, Queen's University Belfast opened the "Longley Room" to honour Michael and his wife. The university also created the Michael Longley scholarship fund. This fund helps poetry students who show great talent.
See also
- List of Northern Irish writers
