The Flora & Fauna of Seamus Heaney: Fauna
'Wildness tore through me'
Join us for a collaborative event as Seamus Heaney: Listen Now Again welcomes Paolo Viscardi, Keeper of Natural History at the National Museum of Ireland.
Together, we will take a deep dive into the animals that inhabit the poetry of Seamus Heaney. Drawing on examples from some of his most cherished works—including Death of a Naturalist, The Otter, and A Lough Neagh Sequence —sharing captivating insights into Ireland’s native wildlife, the very creatures that inspired these evocative poems. Interwoven with poetry readings, this event explores Heaney’s work in light of the biology behind the animals, creating a rich dialogue between literary experience and scientific understanding. The result is a unique opportunity to encounter Heaney’s work alongside the living world that shaped it.
Paolo Viscardi is a zoologist and Keeper at the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History or “Dead Zoo”. His work focuses on zoology, museum collections, and public engagement with natural history.
