One of the world's great poets Seamus Heaney is often quoted by political leaders but what do the public know of his work?
Poet Seamus Heaney is no stranger to awards. He recently won the Whitbread Award for his version of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem 'Beowulf'. He previously won the award for 'The Haw Lantern' in 1987 and 'The Spirit Level' in 1996. In 1995, he won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Seamus Heaney is well known, world leaders quote his work, and most Irish people know he is a poet. But how popular and well known is his poetry? According to the people asked on the streets of Dublin, it is not very well known.
Although the public appear to lack knowledge of Seamus Heaney's work, Theo Dorgan of Poetry Ireland does not believe that this is an indication that poetry is elitist.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 January 2000. The reporter is Anthony Murnane.
