Sunlight was emerging through the clouds on St Brigid’s Day, marking the Celtic start of spring, as they came to honour a poet of the natural world. Up to 300 mourners packed into a Belfast church on Saturday afternoon to pay their respects to Michael Longley, whose poetic eloquence was also inspired by the classics and the Troubles.
Longley died aged 85 in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on January 22nd from complications after a hip operation. His funeral service was held in All Souls Church in the city’s university area, not far from his home in south Belfast.
The church styles itself as a liberal Christian community embracing diversity, and the minister Rev Chris…