The promotion of a trail which incorporates many of the historical sites across South Galway could yield a large dividend for tourism in the region, according to its organisers who will launch the trail’s website next week.
The Lady Gregory and Yeats Heritage Trail is a non-profit community group which was formed in 2011 following a public meeting in Gort and on Friday April 19, the trail website will be officially launched at an event in the Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort.
The members come from a broad base of interests in tourism, heritage and culture and next week they will launch the trail which encompasses historical sites between the towns of Gort and Loughrea associated with Lady Gregory and WB Yeats.
These sites include Kilmacduagh, Coole Park, Kiltartan Gregory Museum, Thoor Ballylee, Killinane Graveyard, Roxborough Gates, Woodville Walled Gardens and St. Brendan’s Cathedral. The unique landscape of South Galway and its people inspired both Lady Gregory and WB. Yeats to create some of their greatest works. Writers, poets, historians, artists and musicians have long been attracted to the area.
The aim of the group is to raise awareness and greater understanding of the lives of Lady Augusta Gregory and WB Yeats, and their impact on the social and cultural life of the area. The group brings together local sites with associations to Lady Gregory and WB.Yeats into a trail between the towns of Gort and Loughrea.
The group believes that there is potential for development of the area as a sustainable cultural heritage tourism destination and their plans for this will be outlined at the launch.
