Thoor Ballylee, WB Yeats’s one time home near Gort, will officially re-open to the public on Saturday June 18. The opening will include an exhibition, the first of a number of events planned for the summer.
Since the tower re-opened in mid-2015, 3,500 people have visited Thoor Ballylee. However, the Norman tower was submerged in water after last winter’s heavy flooding. Many volunteers and local tradespeople worked to restore the tower and valuable financial support was provided by the former US senator Chris Dodd, who donated $10,000.
The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society said: “Sen Dodd’s donation arrived at an ideal time. It has given not only the necessary financial support, but also an injection of energy and confidence to re-open Thoor Ballylee. Without such generous support from Sen Dodd and the American Ireland Fund Thoor Ballylee would not be able to open its doors.”
The forthcoming exhibition will be unveiled by another US benefactor Joseph Hassett. The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society relies on public and private funding to maintain the tower. Donations can be made through http://yeatsthoorballylee.org/donate.
