Like Collins’ acclaimed Silence, Song of Granite is both audacious and perfectly accessible as it chronicles Heaney’s life from boyhood in 1940s Connemara to fame and further exile in North America, from the mid-1960s to his death.

The harsh landscape combined with the myths, fables and songs of his Connemara childhood helped shape this complex and fascinating character. Enigmatic and complex, Heaney’s devotion to his art came at huge personal cost.

Featuring performances from Lisa O'Neill, Damien Dempsey, Seamus Begley and sean nós singers Micheál O'Confhaola and Pól Ó Ceannabháin, the film is an intense exploration of music and song.

This Fleadh on Film screening is presented as part of the Fleadh at Queen’s programme which celebrates the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 coming to Belfast for the first time, and the rich tradition of Irish music and heritage. See the full programme of campus-wide events here.