Sweeney Astray. A Version from the Irish. Derry: Field Day, 1983. First Edition. Pp, 77. Oatmeal cloth boards, title and image in black to covers, in pictorial dust jacket designed by Colin Middleton. A fine bright copy.

Signed by Seamus Heaney on the title page

A celebrated translation by Seamus Heaney of the medieval Irish epic Buile Suibhne (The Madness of Sweeney). Published by Field Day Theatre Company in Derry, the work recounts the legend of King Sweeney, cursed to wander Ireland as a mad outcast after insulting a cleric. Blending poetry and prose, Heaney’s rendition captures the original’s lyrical intensity while making it accessible to modern readers. The translation reflects themes of exile, nature, and the clash between pagan and Christian Ireland, reinforcing Heaney’s fascination with myth and cultural identity.

Field Day’s publication underscores its commitment to Irish literary revival and political resonance during the Troubles.