Rosses Point
I am just back from a lovely visit to Yeat’s Country in Sligo, a part of Ireland that I had only visited briefly before. This time I was staying in Rosses Point, a place where poet William Butler Yeats and his artist brother Jack and family spent many happy holidays when they were younger. Part of the Wild Atlantic Way the views of sea, sky and mountains are absolutely breath taking and you can immediately recognise their influence on these two artists and their work.
‘ Elsinore’, the fine house where they stayed with their mother’s relations is only a ruin now but sits overlooking the expanse of water with its lighthouse and Metal Man, a place where tides and time seem to blend, only a minute or two from two golden beaches. There is a beautiful walk that takes you along the path that the Yeat’s family must have passed so often.
In Sligo itself I visited the wonderful Yeat’s Society Building , right near the river, which has a really interesting display about William Butler Yeats and his life and family and work and their links with Sligo. For anyone with an interest in the poet… a definite must. It also has small display of some of his brother’s art work too.
Sculpture of W. B. Yeats and Yeats Society, Sligo
We then headed out to Drumcliff, the place where Yeats wanted to be buried in the graveyard of St Columba’s, the church where his Great grandfather had been a rector. It is such a peaceful and spiritual spot, and the poet and his wife’s grave rests under the shadow of Ben Bulben which was his express wish. He wanted no fuss and for his body to be brought home a year after he died in France for burial in Sligo but unfortunately World War 11 intervened.It would be a few years later in 1948 before Sean Mac Bride, the son of Maud Gonne, helped to make the arrangements for the return of the much loved poet’s remains to his final resting place in Sligo.
Ben Bulben Mountain is so much a part of Sligo that no matter which direction you seem to travel in you are conscious of its gentle presence just as with Table Mountain in Capetown.
As you travel round Sligo, you soon realize just how much Yeat’s words capture the very nature, spirit and beauty of this very magical place.
Fairies come take me out of this dull world,
for I would ride with you upon the wind .
Run on top of the disheveled tide.
and dance upon the mountains like a flame.
The Land of Heart’s Desire- W.B. Yeats
Yeats resting place in the shadow of Ben Bulben
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The book surprised us, as young readers not only here in Ireland but all around the world lost themselves in the story of Eily, Michael and Peggy’s fight to survive during Ireland’s Great Famine. Following eviction the three children must leave their cottage and set off on a courageous journey across a ravaged countryside to find their aunts.
Marita Conlon-McKenna 