News

Heaney centre gets go-ahead

THE go-ahead has been given for the construction of a Seamus Heaney interpretive centre in Bellaghy, the Nobel Prize winning poet's home village.

Environment minister Mark H Durkan confirmed planning permission yesterday for the centre to be built on the site of Bellaghy's former police station.

The news comes as the first anniversary of the poet's death approaches at the end of August.

Mr Durkan said: "This arts facility will be a fitting tribute to Seamus Heaney. It will be a tremendous community facility for people to enjoy and celebrate the arts and a great cultural and tourist draw for Bellaghy, mid Ulster and the north." Mr Heaney is buried in Bellaghy.