Celebrated singer and human rights advocate Joan Baez is planned to visit renowned poet Seamus Heaney’s residence for a poetry reading during an upcoming trip to Ireland. Baez, aged 83, is scheduled to attend a charitable premier of a film detailing her life, ‘I Am A Noise’, this December. In addition, she will present a reading from her recent poetry book, ‘When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance’, at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace, located in Bellaghy, Co Derry, on the 12th of December.
This visit has been declared by the group ‘Art for Human Rights’. The film, directed by Karen O’Connor, Maeve O’Boyle, and Miri Navasky, will be showcased in Dublin on the 10th of December, which coincides with the International Human Rights Day. A discussion with Baez, O’Connor, and O’Boyle will follow the film, under the moderation of presenter Olivia O’Leary.
“Joan Baez has been at the forefront of civil and human rights movements across the globe for more than 60 years, fervently advocating for peace,” stated the founder and executive director of Art for Human Rights, Bill Shipsey. “We are extremely thankful and humbled and eagerly anticipate meeting her. Precisely 47 years ago today, I was honoured to join her and her late sister Mimi at a protest against capital punishment outside San Quentin Prison [in the US]. I am particularly pleased that she has chosen to make her visit to Ireland.”
Several organisations including Front Line Defenders, the Irish Refugee Council, Fighting Words, and Narrative 4 will participate in the screening, as per Art for Human Rights. ‘When You See My Mother, Ask Her To Dance’ represents a personal memoir of the singer’s lifetime of writing poetry.