Michael Longley

Michael Longley (1939–2025) was a renowned Northern Irish poet celebrated for the quiet beauty and meditative depth of his compact lyrics, often exploring themes of nature and civil strife. Born in Belfast to an English family, he became a central figure in contemporary Irish poetry, winning numerous accolades including the Whitbread Prize, the T.S. Eliot Prize, and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. He passed away at age 85 in Belfast following complications from hip surgery.