Recalling Joyce too, how Heaney laughed

Some years ago, at Listowel Writers’ Week, Seamus Heaney gave a genuine belly laugh when I told him the following true story.

A friend of mine owned a shop at the junction of Hawkins Street and Poolbeg Street, in Dublin. One day, the Nobel laureate went in and made a purchase. When he left, the following dialogue took place between the shopkeeper and his young, female shop assistant.

Shopkeeper: That was Seamus Heaney.

Shop assistant: Seamus who?

Shopkeeper: Do you realise that is like if James Joyce came into the shop?

Shop assistant: James who?

Mattie Lennon

Blessington

Co Wicklow