What influence of history can be seen in Seamus Heaney's work?

... Polly Jackman, 12SAM What influence of history can be seen in Seamus Heaney's work? In Requiem for the Croppies Heaney writes specifically about an historic event, but he also uses different forms of history such as mythological and personal in his poetry. Although Requiem for the Croppies is written about a past event, the Battle of Vinegar Hill, Heaney uses 'We moved quick and sudden in our own country' to produce the idea that he was with the 'people, hardly marching', that he was a part of them. These words also give rise to the idea that when Heaney writes about the Battle of Vinegar Hill he also refers to the continuing troubles in Ireland, which he most definitely is involved in. This poem is steeped in history; Heaney describes things, as they were then; 'The pockets of our greatcoats full of barley-'. As he writes here it seems factual writing,

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