In this reflective essay featured in The Woodlot, Foundational Certificate alum Conor Mc Donnell examines the themes of grief and memory in Seamus Heaney’s poem “Mid-Term Break” published in his 1966 collection Death of a Naturalist.

Conor blends analysis with personal narrative, exploring how Heaney’s work unlocks hidden memories and emotional insights, and illustrates the power of poetry to evoke empathy and introspection. Read the entire essay.