Sligo to celebrate a season of Yeats

The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD, today officially launched A Season of Yeats – a new exciting tourism initiative for Sligo which sets out to widen the local appeal and increase the tourism value of W. B. Yeats and the wider Yeats Family connection to Sligo. The Minister announced €200k in funding, via Fáilte Ireland, to support the initiative over the next three years.

The Season of Yeats is being led out by Fáilte Ireland and local interest groups and tourism businesses to once and for all cement the poet’s strong association with Sligo and through this connection, to deliver on a high quality literary and entertainments programme that will go from strength to strength.

Minister Ring today emphasised:  “A Season of Yeats is a clever and innovative way to fill a gap in Sligo’s cultural calendar. It presents a variety of cultural events and will deliver a unique visitor experience for national and international visitors to Sligo – especially those wishing to connect with all aspects of the Yeats Family’s cultural heritage and legacy.
“I know that the opening event, Yeats Day, was recently launched in both Dublin and Sligo but I want everyone to know that there will also be a further six weeks of Yeats-related activities. If you like culture, beautiful landscapes and friendly people, then Sligo should be firmly on your map this Summer.”

A SEASON OF YEATS – THE PROGRAMME

A Season of Yeats will begin on June 13th (the anniversary of the poet’s birthday) and will continue over a 6 week period initially growing to a longer season over the three year period. Events will be supported by community level activation and animation. Fáilte Ireland will engage with local businesses to ensure all stakeholders are involved in Yeats Season. Animations such as walking tours, pop-up shops and poetry recitals will bring Yeats and his works to life.

The programme will feature exhibitions of Jack and John Yeats’ work atThe Model, readings and performances of W.B. Yeats’ work at Hawk’s Well and Blue Raincoat’s Theatre and at Drumcliff; a series of talks and films surrounding the Yeats Family; promoting an integrated inclusive Yeats programme in Sligo which will see a series of quality events around music performances and further exhibitions.

Fáilte Ireland in the North West will drive the Yeats initiative A Season of Yeats in close collaboration with all stakeholders, ensuring Sligo can deliver a quality programme of Yeats’ themed events, appealing to a wide audience at home and abroad.

Fáilte Ireland is also developing a dedicated websitewww.seasonofyeats.com  which will contain information on all of the events and activities that are part of A Season of Yeats. The website will deliver on a strong social media forum, twitter, Facebook, and u tube, and will be launched on 25th May.

The Yeats International Summer School, now in its 53rd year, has long been a champion of the Yeats legacy in the region and has maintained the academic integrity and quality of Yeats work on offer to an international audience. This integrity is key to the growth of the festival and A Season of Yeats is working closely with the society and its president to maximise the potential of Yeats in the most appropriate way.