17 pages • 34-minute read
Whatever You Say, Say Nothing
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Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“Casualty” by Seamus Heaney (1981)
This poem, originally published in Heaney’s 1981 collection Field Work, details events associated with the Troubles. Like, “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing,” this poem is cut into sections marked by roman numerals and delves into the Troubles as part of the landscape of Northern Ireland.
“Mid-Term Break” by Seamus Heaney (1966)
One of Heaney’s more personal poems, this piece details his feelings surrounding the death of Heaney’s four-year-old brother when he was a child. Like many of Heaney’s poems, this piece addresses violence and the loss of innocence that comes inevitability with maturation.
“Zombie” by The Cranberries (1994)
Written and originally performed in 1994, “Zombie” is a famous anthem that grapples with the violence, death, and strife of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The Cranberries are an Irish rock band, and the song is filled with the sounds of rage and loss.
“Easter, 1916” by William Butler Yeats (1916)
Though written many decades before the official starting point of the Troubles, this poem, by famous Irish poet, W.B. Yeats, offers a perspective on the same violence, many years prior to Heaney’s writing of “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing.” This poem also serves to illustrate the longevity of this unrest for unfamiliar readers, and it illustrates related events and protests against British rule from citizens of what would become the Republic of Ireland (mostly Dublin and the surrounding area.)
Further Literary Resources
“(170) Colum Sands, ‘What ever you say, say nothing’” uploaded by Colum Sands official (2010)
This YouTube video plays with the same phrase Heaney references in “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing” to make an anti-war statement. Sands’ song deals with the right of free speech and infringements of threats against open dialogue.
Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland by CAIN at Ulster University (2025)
Ulster University’s Conflict Archive on the Internet, otherwise known as CAIN, provides a range of resources about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It includes a helpful chronology of events, overviews of key events and issues, as well as links to art inspired by the era, like the work of Seamus Heaney.
“Irish Nationalism and Irish Catholicism: A Study in Cultural Identity” by Lawrence J. McCaffrey (1973)
This academic source from 1973 explains concepts that are key to developing an understanding of the cultural, political, and religious identities at play in Northern Ireland. This source is helpful for its scope and explanations relating to Irish Nationalism.
“What were the Troubles?” uploaded by Imperial War Museums (2020)
This source, which comes from a recent YouTube video, provides a good, solid overview of the Troubles. This particular source is especially helpful for someone who is unfamiliar with the topic and needs a quick introduction to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Listen to Poem
Seamus Heaney reads “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing”
In this 1999 Channel 4 News broadcast, Seamus Heaney reads his poem “Whatever You Say, Say Nothing,” originally published in his 1975 poetry collection, North.
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