#DayOfWelcomes #BeaconsAtBealtaine #SeamusHeaney

On May Day 2004, Ireland hosted the Day of Welcomes to celebrate the accession of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union.

Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney was commissioned by the Government of Ireland to write a poem for the ceremony. To mark the twentieth anniversary of this historic day, his poem, ‘Beacons at Bealtaine’, has been translated and published in the national languages of the ten states, together with this film.

For the poem, introduction and translations, visit https://ireland.ie/day-of-welcomes.

This special project is a partnership between the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Estate of Seamus Heaney and Literature Ireland.