FOUR signed original hardback Seamus Heaney books will be among the items for auction at a GAA gala dinner this weekend.
Wolfe Tones, Bellaghy, will celebrate the club's 75th anniversary with a black-tie event at the Tullyglass Hotel in Ballymena on Friday night, where the prized items will go on sale.
The books - Opened Ground, Electric Light, District and Circle and Human Chain - comprise the entire canon of Heaney's poetry.
Opened Ground contains the poems from his first 10 collections, from Death of a Naturalist in 1966 to The
Spirit Level in 1996.
He subsequently published three more collections - Electric Light
(2001), District and Circle (2006) and Human Chain (2010).
The books are all in perfect condition, having only been opened for Heaney to sign his name.
The dustwrappers have been protected by removable clear acetate covers.
As a young man Heaney was heavily involved in the cultural aspects of the GAA in Bellaghy Wolfe Tones.
Following the awarding of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1995 he was honoured with a special reception in the club.
On that occasion he recalled with fondness taking part in plays and organising ceilidhs. He also commented that among his earliest ventures into
poetry was composing treasure-hunts in rhyme for the club.
Heaney, who played underage football briefly in neighbouring Castledawson, continued to be a great supporter of the club, donating items for fundraisers on many occasions until his death in August 2013.
Alongside the auction of the books, Bellaghy will also take bids on specialist items including a signed framed photograph of AP McCoy at the Grand National and a signed and framed Kerry jersey from 2009.
The club are accepting bids prior to the dinner on Friday night.
Anyone interested in purchasing any of the items can contact Francis on 079 6816 4885.
* HONOURED: Seamus Heaney
* ENTIRE POETRY CANON: The four books to be auctioned