2015 is the year for the celebration of the life and works of WB Yeats. Festivities for this year-long celebration are already underway with a range of events taking place in County Sligo. Organisers are estimating that the year-long event will attract up to 85,000 extra visitors this year and it is hoped that it will generate renewed interest and enthusiasm in Irish culture and literature.
Follow in the footsteps of WB Yeats, one of Ireland’s most celebrated poets and explore the wonders and landscapes of County Sligo whilst on a vacation in Ireland this year. Also worth a visit is the Lake Isle of Inisfree, Benbulben, Glencar Waterfall and Lissadell House and Gardens which feature in his poetry.
2015 marks the 150 year anniversary of the birth of WB Yeats, one of Ireland’s most celebrated poets.
Yeats International Winter School is set to take place this month from the 22rd until the 26th January, where guest speakers including Declan Kilberd, Paula Meehand and Theo Dorgan are set to honour this great literary giant. The largest celebration of the year is set to take place on Yeats Day on June 13th, 150 years to the day since the poet’s birthday in 1865. Yeat’s Day marks the commencement of a four day-long celebration including guest speakers both from Ireland and abroad including Irish, Scottish and English poets who will be speaking at a number of events planned as part of this celebration.
WB Yeat’s association with many key landmarks along the Wild Atlantic Way will also feature as part of the year-long celebration. With a range of events planned nationwide, 2015 is certainly the year to celebrate this epic 150 year anniversary.
Senator Susan O’Keeffe said: “Yeats himself founded a poetry club called the Rhymers Club in a pub call the Cheshire Cheese Pub in London so it seems fitting to start this exciting year of celebration with poetry in the pub”.“Already there are a huge number of events planned. Our National Cultural Institutions, including the National Library, National Gallery and the Abbey Theatre all programming Yeats themed exhibitions and events in 2015,” she said.“Visitors wishing to walk in Yeats’ shoes will be encouraged to visit places like Innisfree, the Sally Gardens, BenBulben Mountain, Coole Park and Thoor Ballylee.”
This timely celebration is surely set to add to Tourism Ireland’s plans to attract as many as 7.74 million visitors making a trip to Ireland in 2015. It is hoped that this increase in visitor numbers will bring in an estimated €4 billion in revenue for the Irish economy.