SEVERAL news outlets left readers confused after reporting on a “tribute” from Irish poet Seamus Heaney to Sinéad O'Connor.
The acclaimed Irish singer died at the age of 56 on Wednesday, and the Nobel Laureate poet Heaney died 10 years ago.
However, several news outlets, including The Guardian, Sky News and the Daily Mail left readers confused after reporting on a tweet from a Seamus Heaney fan account which read: “A great Irish poet and singer left us today.
“She was beautiful, courageous and wore her heart on her sleeve. She was before her time. Nothing will ever compare to Sinéad O’Connor.
A great Irish poet and singer left us today. She was beautiful, courageous and wore her heart on her sleeve. She was before her time. Nothing will ever compare to Sinéad O’Connor. Rest easy Sinéad. pic.twitter.com/wBpRjV2Eol
— Seamus Heaney (@HeaneyDaily) July 26, 2023
“Rest easy Sinéad.”
The Guardian and Sky News were among those to report that the tribute came from the poet himself, even though he died in 2013.
It in fact came from fan page @HeaneyDaily, which shares quotes and poems from the writer.
Many Twitter users were left baffled by the error, given that the writer has been dead for 10 years.
One commented: “Someone needs to tell Sky News Seamus Heaney is still very definitely dead and very definitely not tweeting this evening.”
“Poets really are immortal”, another user added while a third commented: “Very sad about this but @guardian I really don’t think Seamus Heaney did tweet this today.”
The Guardian later printed a correction on the story which said: “This article was amended on July 26 2023.
“Owing to an editing error, an earlier version included a tribute to Sinéad O'Connor from a Twitter fan account dedicated to Seamus Heaney, who died in 2013.”
Following her death, it has emerged that police officers found the singer unresponsive in a London flat on Wednesday just weeks after she had moved to the city.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that officers were called at 11.18am to reports of an “unresponsive woman” at a residential address in the Herne Hill area of south London.
The force said her death was not being treated as suspicious.
