Search Results for 'Norman tower'

One of the attractions for WB Yeats, when he was considering buying the old Norman tower at Ballylee, was that the surrounding countryside echoed with stories of Antoine Ó Raifteiraí (1799-1835), the blind minstrel, who frequented the south Galway area.

Every year a Poet’s Picnic is held in celebration of the birthday of WB Yeats. This year is no exception. On afternoon of Saturday 13 June between 2 and 3 pm, live from the poet’s tower in Galway, there will be livestreaming event of poetry, music, and memories for Yeats’s 155th birthday. This is the first in a series of events held all summer long at Thoor Ballylee, as the tower opens virtually and for outdoor visitors in compliance with Covid 19 restrictions.

The first time Lady Gregory met John Quinn was on Sunday August 31 1902 at a Feis Ceol she had partly organised in the memory of Ó Raifteirí the poet. The occasion also marked Lady Gregory’s first steps into the Celtic revival movement which would absorb her energies throughout her long life, and define her reputation for ever.

Week VI

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.