From Paris, I ventured on to Dublin, Ireland, home of poet & playwright William Butler Yeats. Yeats soon became one of the primary figures of literature in the 19th Century, and remains so today.Yeats was born on the 13th June 1865 in Sandymount, Co. Dublin, to John Butler Yeats and Susan Mary Pollexfen. John B. Yeats was an established lawyer, however his passion always remained with painting - portraits in particular, while Susan was the daughter of a wealthy family from Co. Sligo. Susan's father had very strong political views and wanted Ireland to remain under the control of the British crown, while her husband, John, expressed his sympathy for the nationalists and those in favour of Home Rule. Despite his "hostilities" toward the English, John moved the family to London to study art at Heatherly's Art School. Though immensely interested in all aspects of creativity and culture, it was in fact Susan who first introduced William & his two sisters (Susan Mary & Elizabeth Corbet) to the Irish folktales, that would later be reflected in his poetry.
While in England, Yeats attended the Godolphin School in Hammersmith, prior to moving back to Dublin. He was educated in both England & Ireland and spent his summers in the serene west coast of Ireland.
In 1884, Yeats enrolled in the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin and studied there for two years. It was during this time that some of his first poems were printed in the "Dublin University Review."
Throughout Yeats' early life, he was actively involved in movements to bring about an Irish literary revival and acquired a deep interest in religion, politics literature and art. Although generally shy in the presence of women, Yeats did develop close friendships with women such as Katharine Tynan, Madame Blavatsky and in particular, Maud Gonne; a poet, feminist & actress with whom Yeats fell madly in love, whoever it remained unrequited. After several failed proposals, Yeats also asked Maud's daughter Iseult, for her hand in marriage. Ultimately, Yeats ended up marrying Miss George Hyde-Lees.
In 1894 Yeats and developed a friendship with Lady Augusta Gregory and in 1899 founded the Irish Literary Theatre (now called The Abbey Theatre). Yeats' play "On Baile's Strand" was one of it's first productions and Yeats remained the leading playwright for the theatre until John Synge joined.
Yeats' plays are usually based around legends and reflect his interest in spiritualism and mysticism. The play "Deirdre" in 1907 would be one of his most famous plays. Yeats' poetry, however displays his deep love of nature, his unrequited love and political matters. Some would include:
-He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven
-The Lake Isles of Inisfree
-The Wild Swans at Coole.
In December 1923, Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature.
Sandymount, Yeats' birthplace, is a coastal seaside suburb in Dublin 4 - on the Southside of Dublin. The town is situated approximately 3.5-5 kilometres south east of Dublin City and is served by the DART commuter rail system. The area contains many large Victorian style houses, as well as some more modern developments, mostly dating back from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Located next to the village is Sandymount Stand, which is a prominent part of the south side of Dublin Bay & expands to Merrion Gates.
Sandymount is also the birthplace of John S. Beckett and the home of Gay Byrne and Mary Harney.
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."- W.B. Yeats
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