The Writers Chair

Sitting on the shores of Church Bay stands this large, grey basalt rock throne built to inspire artists who visit the island. It is known as The Writers Chair. The work of art was created by the Ballycastle Writers Society and Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust, which received funding from the EU’s PEACE funding, Tourism Ireland, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The front of the chair is inscribed with a quote from Irish poet Seamus Heaney that reads: “When you sat, far-eyed and cold, in the basalt throne, the small of your back made very solid sense. You gathered force out of the world-tree’s hardness if you stretched your hand forth, things might turn to stone.”

On the back of the chair is a list of writers, poets, singers, and songwriters who have experienced what Rathlin Island has to offer, and some have even written about the island in their works.