A Special Family Connection: Stuart Reid Brings Reading Rocks! to Seamus Heaney HomePlace

Children’s author Stuart Reid is delighted to be bringing his lively, interactive Reading Rocks! show to Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, celebrating the joy of reading and a very special family connection to one of Ireland’s greatest poets.

On Saturday, 14 March 2026, I had the pleasure of appearing at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy with my live show, Stuart Reid’s Reading Rocks! The event brought together stories, laughter, audience participation and a celebration of books for young readers.

But this visit meant even more to me because of a rather remarkable family connection.

A family link to Seamus Heaney

My son-in-law, Daniel, is the grandson of one of Seamus Heaney’s closest friends from their schooldays at St Columb’s College in Derry. Heaney and his friend were classmates during the 1950s, sharing the formative years that helped shape the lives and friendships of two young men growing up in Northern Ireland.

A cherished photograph of these school friends is proudly displayed at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, preserving a little piece of that shared history.

For my family, this connection makes the HomePlace a particularly meaningful place to visit.

A poem that made our wedding day special

The connection became even more poignant at the wedding of my daughter, Jess, and Daniel last year.

During the ceremony, Seamus Heaney’s beautiful poem Scaffolding was read aloud. First published in his 1966 collection Death of a Naturalist, the poem uses the image of builders carefully putting up and testing scaffolding to explore the trust, patience and support that help relationships stand strong.

It was a lovely choice for a wedding, and knowing the history behind Daniel’s family connection to Heaney made it all the more special.

To have that family story linked to a place dedicated to celebrating Heaney’s life and work is something I feel very fortunate to experience.

Bringing books to life with Reading Rocks!

For more than a decade, I have been sharing my books and love of reading with children in schools, libraries and book festivals across the UK and beyond.

My Reading Rocks! performances are all about making reading an experience children can enjoy: lively storytelling, silly humour, audience participation and plenty of opportunities to join in.

As a children’s author, I believe that getting children excited about books is one of the most rewarding things we can do. A story can make them laugh, spark their imagination and help them discover the pleasure of reading for themselves.

I was thrilled to bring that enthusiasm to Seamus Heaney HomePlace, a place that celebrates the extraordinary literary heritage of Northern Ireland.

Ahead of the event, I posted:

“I’m thrilled to be bringing my stories to Seamus Heaney HomePlace. Knowing there’s this family connection through my son-in-law to Seamus Heaney’s college days makes it even more meaningful. It’s a real honour to share the magic of reading in a place that celebrates such incredible Irish creativity and heritage.”

For me, this was more than another appearance on the calendar. It was an opportunity to celebrate children’s literature, family, friendship and the lasting power of stories — all in a place that honours a poet whose words continue to mean so much to so many people.

Find out more about my books, school visits and Reading Rocks! performances at www.stuartreidbooks.com.