Michael Longley, one of Northern Ireland’s most distinguished poets and winner of the TS Eliot Prize, has died at age 85 following complications from hip surgery, per theguardian.com. His passing marks the end of an era in Irish poetry, as he was the last surviving member of the influential Northern Irish poetry triumvirate that included Seamus Heaney and Derek Mahon.
Longley, whom Heaney once described as “a custodian of griefs and wonders,” passed away on Wednesday in hospital. His longtime editor, Robin Robertson, praised the poet’s masterful craft, noting that “every poem was close to perfect.”
Born in Belfast in 1939, Longley emerged from the vibrant literary scene of 1960s Northern Ireland, where he was part of the legendary Belfast Group alongside other notable writers such as Paul Muldoon and Ciaran Carson. His first collection, Ten Poems, was published in 1965, launching a career that would span nearly six decades and earn him numerous accolades, including the Whitbread Prize and a CBE.
Beyond his creative work, Longley served as combined arts director for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing the arts in his home province. His most renowned poem, “Ceasefire,” written in 1994, proved prophetic when it was published just before the announcement of a ceasefire in Northern Ireland.
In 2022, Longley published his final collection, The Slain Birds, which critics praised as “teemingly alive.” His work consistently transcended political and cultural divisions, with South Belfast MP Claire Hanna describing him as someone who “transcended narrow categories of ‘Irish’ & ‘British'” while remaining “kind, generous, open, humorous.”
Longley is survived by his wife, critic and academic Edna Longley, who was both his first reviewer and lifelong literary companion, and their three children. His passing represents the loss of a vital voice in contemporary poetry, one that masterfully balanced personal experience with broader historical and cultural themes.
The bbc.com reports that a number of tributes have been paid to Longley.
The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins said: “It has long been my belief that his work is of the level that would be befitting of a Nobel Prize for Literature.
“The range of his work was immense, be it from the heartbreak of loss to the assurance of the resilience of beauty in nature.”
Artist Colin Davidson posted a tribute, alongside a picture of two portraits of his “dear friend”.
“Today, I am filled with sadness and a great sense of pride,” he said.
“Michael was one of the Belfast greats. One of the Irish greats. One of the world’s greats.
“A poet whose work quietly whispered those truths which we all needed to hear.”
In a statement, Queens University Belfast (QUB) said the poet’s “profound contributions to literature and his deep connection to our city have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape”.
- Image by Murdo MacLeod/the Guardian
