The Yeats Trail
"Come away, O human child, to the waters and the wild..."
The Stolen Child, William Butler Yeats 1886
The Yeats Trail has been developed for those of you who love grand old houses magnificent scenery, a fine flavour of irish culture and great stories.
Download the Yeats Trail guide (pdf, 2.29 mb) and explore locations, galleries and museums connected to Yeats. We feature some of the highlights below.
W.B Yeats and Sligo
W.B. Yeats was born in 1865 in Dublin. His life was devoted to writing and to raising the consciousness of the Irish nation through this art.
His father, John Butler Yeats, wishing to train as an artist, moved the familty to London, where Jack Yeats was born.
Both brothers, however, spent a lot of their childhood years in
Sligo with their Pollexfen grandparents and discovered there is a haven that allowed space for childhood innocence.
The Sligo landscape in all its variety flooded their minds. The table topped mountain Ben Bulben (pictured) evoked grandeur of epic proportions.
Horse races on the beach at Rosses Point were heart thumping moments, the legends were alive and the people they met contained a savage mix of utter self containment and open heartedness.
Locations not to be missed on the Yeats Trail
Fnal resting place of W.B.Yeats and site of a 6th century Columbian monastery.
This beautiful site which nestles under Benbulben Mountain has an exciting range of activities for the visitor.
Just 7km North of Sligo on the N15.
Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo.
T: 071 91 44956 F: 071 9148971
E: drumcliffeteahouse@eircom.net
The Yeats Society occupies a delightful heritage building in the centre of Sligo Town.
It presents a fascinating photographic exhibition of the life and times of W.B. Yeats and his family.
The Yeats Society, Hyde Bridge, Sligo T: 071 9142603
E: info@yeats-sligo.com, Web: www.yeats-sligo.com
Kiltartan Gregory Museum - Galway
Award-winning museum housing the works of lady Gregory, local history, artefacts, photos, manuscripts and an early 20th Century classroom.
Kiltartan Cross, Situated on N18,3km North East of Gort
T: 091 632346 (June - Sep) 091 631068 (Out of season)
E: mlf1892@eircom.net, web: www.gortonline.com
Thoor Ballylee - Galway
W.B. Yeats bought this ancient Norman tower and adjoining cottages in 1916.
Watch the audio visual presentation on the life and times of W. B. Yeats, or enjoy a beautiful riverside walk to the ancient mill and mill wheel.
Gort, Situated 1km of the Galway/Limerick Rd, N18
T: 091 631436 (Jun - Sept) 091 537700 (Oct - May)
E: thoorballylee@failteireland.ie
Coole Park
Coole Park & Visitor Centre, now a nature reserve, was the home of Lady Augusta Gregory, dramatist and co-founder with Edward Martyn and W.B. Yeats of the Abbey Theatre.
3km North of Gort on N18
T: 091 631804 F: 631653
E: info@coolepark.ie www.coolepark.ie
The Model Arts & Niland Gallery
This beautiful building is home to the impressive Niland Art Collection, featuring John and Jack B. Yeats, Estella Solomons, Paul Henry and Louis Le Broquy, among others.
The centre also has a vibrant performing arts programme, which includes an eclectic mix of jazz and contemporary music, classical and traditional.
The contemporary exhibition programme features nine solo or group exhibitions annually, drawn from the best of local, national and international artists.
The Mall, Sligo T: 071 9141405
E: info@modelart.ie web: www.modelart.ie
Sligo County Museum
Sligo County Museum's Yeats’ collection includes a selection of photographs, prints, artefacts and memorabilia.
Stephen St., Sligo T: 0719146798
E: sligolib@sligococo.ie
The Dublin Writers Museum
Yeats, Swift and Sheridan, Shaw and Wilde, Joyce and Beckett are among those presented through their books, letters, portraits and personal items.
Situated in a magnificent 18th century mansion in the north city centre, the collection features the lives and works of Dublin's literary celebrities over the past three hundred years.
18 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
T: 01 8722077 , F: 01 8722231
Horse Holiday Farm
Follow a Yeats Trail from the vantage of a horse
Grange, Sligo
T: 071 9166152, F: 071 9166400,
E: hhf@eircom.net
www.horse-holiday-farm.com
Rose of Inishfree Waterbus
Kilmore, Fivemilebourne, Co. Leitrim
T: 071 9164266, E: info@roseofinnisfree.com
www.roseofinnisfree.com