Working, Living & Travelling In Ireland

Tag: Yeat’s Tower

  • Yeats ‘s activities around Galway this weekend

    Yeats ‘s activities around Galway this weekend

    Hi all,

    This weekend there will be hive of activity around the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats.  I was at the park during the weekend, and sat on a bench, overlooking the scenery, it was absolutely beautiful!

    The below tree, better known as the autograph tree, is located in Coole Park, where the poet spent a lot of time with Lady Gregory and many other famous people that were at the base of the then “literature revival“.

    Signature Tree in Coole Park, Co. Galway
    Autograph Tree, Coole Park Walled Garden Co. Galway

    autograph_guide

    It’s called autograph tree, as when the friends of Lady Gregory visited, they carved in their name on the tree. At this stage it’s hard to make out the names, so the above display which is at the base of the tree makes it just that little bit easier!

    As for me, I am going to the picnic at the Kiltartan Museum :

    Kiltartan Gregory Cultural Society is hosting a picnic in the Millennium Park at Kiltartan Gregory Museum to celebrate Yeats’ birthday on June 13th. Bring your choice of picnic, enjoy a recital by Coole Music Ensemble, poetry reading by local school children, face painting for the younger generation and a Trad session with Gaillimh Theas Comhaltas.
    ‘ Mr Yeats ‘ is on the guest list. Come in period costume. Time. 12.30 to 2.30 pm.

    And after that, I am heading to the official opening of Thoor Ballylee.

    The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society invites you to the re- opening of Thoor Ballylee on the occasion of W.B. Yeats 150th birthday.
    With special guests:
    Senator Healy Eames, Chair of Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society, Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Joseph Hassett, Yeats Scholar and Thoor Ballylee Benefactor
    Niall De Burca, Internationally acclaimed story teller will perform at the event
    Followed by Community BBQ

    So my next quest is, where I am going to find “period” clothing as seen below!! Help!!

    picnicatkiltartanHope to see you there!

    Katleen

     

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  • The Song of Wandering Aengus, read at O’Sullivan’s Hotel in Gort, Co. Galway

    The Song of Wandering Aengus, read at O’Sullivan’s Hotel in Gort, Co. Galway

    Hi all,

    When I was at the Auction at Yeat’s tower last sunday, I heard about the initiative from Yeats Galway 2015 to read a Yeat’s Poem a day at O’Sullivan’s hotel in Gort, Co. Galway during the month of June. Maybe instead of an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a poem a day keeps the doctor away 🙂

    I decided to head over to O’Sullivan and listen to the reading of Els Van Hout, who read a beautiful poem called “The Song of Wandering Aengus”, written by Yeats in 1899.

    I recorded the reading, and you can read the poem below.

    “The Song of Wandering Aengus”, written by Yeats in 1899.

    I went out to the hazel wood,
    Because a fire was in my head,
    And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
    And hooked a berry to a thread;
    And when white moths were on the wing,
    And moth-like stars were flickering out,
    I dropped the berry in a stream
    And caught a little silver trout.

     

    When I had laid it on the floor
    I went to blow the fire a-flame,
    But something rustled on the floor,
    And someone called me by my name:
    It had become a glimmering girl
    With apple blossom in her hair
    Who called me by my name and ran
    And faded through the brightening air.

     

    Though I am old with wandering
    Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
    I will find out where she has gone,
    And kiss her lips and take her hands;
    And walk among long dappled grass,
    And pluck till time and times are done,
    The silver apples of the moon,
    The golden apples of the sun.
    Hope you enjoyed the reading !
    Cheers,
    Katleen

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  • Thoor Ballylee auction, Castle to be reopenend 13th of June 2015

    Thoor Ballylee auction, Castle to be reopenend 13th of June 2015

    Dear Readers,

    I am just back from a great event which was held at Thoor Ballylee, which is located (almost) around the corner from where I live.

    IMG_9321[1]

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    The event was organized by the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society and consisted of an auction that started at the rooftop of the castle, and continued inside. We were also treated to some traditional music, performed by Coole Music.

    Check out my new blog article about the auction at Thoor Ballylee yesterday, we had great fun! Below some fragment of the music played by Coole Music!http://www.workinglivingtravellinginireland.com/2015/06/thoor-ballylee-auction-castle-to-be-reopenend-13th-of-june-2015.html Posted by Workinglivingtravelinginireland on Monday, 1 June 2015
    IMG_9325[1]   It’s been a long time I  have been inside the castle, as it was badly flooded in 2009 and a lot of damage was done, and has been closed ever since. The  castle ( or Thoor in Irish) is very central in the life of Yeats and his family, as he bought the castle in 1916-1917 and lived there with his family from 1921 to 1929. You can read more detail about Thoor Ballylee here. The castle then fell into disrepair, and was reopened on Yeats 100th birthday, 20th of June 1965. 50 years later, thanks  to the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society, Thoor Ballylee is being reinvented and today’s fundraiser will go a long way towards the reopening later in June! IMG_9331[1] There were many items for auction , and a last minute submission of a letter & book by Maud Gonne fetched an amazing 5200 Euros. It was a nail-biting auction, and the items were very close to go to Dublin when a local couple from Salthill put in the winning bid! There was  roar of applause and the buyers shed a tear of relief, as they wanted to keep these historic items in Galway! There was a stand outside with yummie burgers and hotdogs. The local youngsters kept the tea and coffee flowing. They had great fun! IMG_9326[1] The next event is taking place on the 13th of June, starting with a picnic at Kiltartan Museum and then the official re opening of Thoor Ballylee. If you are interested to become a friend of Thoor Ballylee,  or join the society, please follow this link. Really happy we went and supported this worthwhile community event! Katleen          

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