Michael Longley, poet, 1939-2025

Printed in tribute to Michael Longley 27 July 1939 – 22 Jan 2025.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Ceasefire

1
Put in mind of his own father and moved to tears

Achilles took him by the hand and pushed the old king

Gently away, but Priam curled up at his feet and

Wept with him until their sadness filled the building.

2
Taking Hector’s corpse into his own hands Achilles

Made sure it was washed and, for the old king’s sake,

Laid out in uniform, ready for Priam to carry

Wrapped like a present home to Troy at daybreak.

3
When they had eaten together, it pleased them both

To stare at each other’s beauty as lovers might,

Achilles built like a god, Priam good-looking still

And full of conversation, who earlier had sighed:

4
I get down on my knees and do what must be done

And kiss Achilles’ hand, the killer of my son.

Michael Longley wrote this poem, evoking the painful reconciliation of those who must make peace, hoping that he might influence doubters on the IRA army council. He says he believes poetry does make things happen. And he wrote: “When I published my poem Ceasefire in the Irish Times I got a letter from the father of Paul Maxwell, the sixteen-year-old boy who had been blown up with Lord Mountbatten. Those letters matter more to me than any amount of criticism I might receive in literary journals or attention in the public world.”

https://rip.ie/death-notice/michael-george-longley-antrim-belfast-582989

It is with deepest sadness that we announce the death of Michael George Longley, beloved husband of Edna, father of Rebecca, Daniel and Sarah; grandfather of Ben, Jacob, Eddie, Conor, Katie, Maisie and Amelia; also mourned by his daughter-in-law, Lisa, and sons-in-law Andy and Stewart. Poet.

Michael passed away peacefully on Wednesday 22 January in his home town of Belfast, surrounded by his family, music, love and poetry. Michael will be remembered widely for his warmth, humour, friendship, intellect and his many contributions to the arts on the island of Ireland, in the UK, and across the world. In particular, his wonderful poems will remain with us always, providing comfort and a continuing close connection to him. His words will live on for ever.

His family would like to thank the staff of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and especially Ward 4D at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, for their care of Michael in his final days.

Funeral arrangements. A funeral service will take place on Saturday 1 February at 12 noon in All Souls Church, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast, followed by a private committal at Roselawn Crematorium. Family flowers only, please. Donations in lieu, if so desired, may be made to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds via Tributes & Donations at www.jamesbrownfuneraldirectors.com

Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Michael Longley

Date: Thu 23rd Jan, 2025 | 13:46

“It is with the deepest sadness that I, like so many others, have learned of the death of Michael Longley. I regarded him as a peerless poet with at least three poetic lives. It is, however, the generosity of his heart, and the lovely cadence of a voice of love and friendship that I will most remember.

Michael Longley will be recognised as one of the greatest poets that Ireland has ever produced, and 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.

In his poems, we find a quiet attentiveness to the vagaries of the human heart, its ambitions, its disappointments, its successes and failures, and above all its capacity for empathy. Michael worked to give space and actuality to the moral imperative that we must live together with forbearance, with understanding, with compassion and insight, and above all else, perhaps, with hope.

I think, in particular, of his magisterial poem ‘Ceasefire’, a poem which I have had the privilege to hear Michael read in person on a number of occasions.

I think for instance of when it was an honour to be present when Michael was conferred with the Freedom of the City of Belfast in 2015 and, in particular, when he read the poem in Áras an Uachtaráin in 2017 at an event attended by the then Prince Charles.

I think it is appropriate to quote the final two lines of that poem, which recall a classic reference in response to loss, and which express the terrible and beautiful essence of what it is to forgive:

I get down on my knees and do what must be done

And kiss Achilles’ hand, the killer of my son.”

Michael Longley worked for artists’ welfare and his company was treasured by us all. In the course of a distinguished career with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Michael worked to support, encourage and nurture creativity in the most generous and inclusive way possible.

May I send my deepest condolences to Michael’s wife, the scholar and writer Edna Longley, to his children and to all of his family, friends and many admirers across the world.”

ENDS