Michael Longley

Michael Longley (1939 – 2025) was born in Belfast and was one of the giants of contemporary poetry in Ireland. He was Ireland Professor of Poetry from 2007 to 2010 and published numerous collections since his first, Ten Poems, appeared in 1965. He won all the major poetry prizes and his 2014 collection The Stairwell won the International Griffin Prize. His work is infused with the stories of the classical world and with the subtle details of nature.