Imelda’s getting up close and personal with the Yeats sisters
IMELDA May is set to sing the praises of the ‘forgotten’ sisters of WB Yeats as part of a documentary for International Women’s Day next month.
Susan Yeats, known as Lily, was a skilled embroiderer, while Elizabeth Yeats, or Lolly, was an art teacher, author and publisher.
The two lesser-known siblings of the poet are credited with being the backbone of Ireland’s cultural and literary revival of the 1920s. Over four decades, the sisters were responsible for publishing over 70 titles, including works by many of the period’s leading Irish authors.
Alongside a friend of theirs, Evelyn Gleeson, the pair set up the first and only craft guild of its kind, the Dun Emer Guild, which employed only women. The ethos behind the group was to ‘find work for Irish hands in the making of beautiful things’ and to promote women’s economic and cultural independence.
The one-hour documentary hosted by Ms May will highlight the sisters’ many talents in an attempt to revitalise their legacy. ‘If known at all, they were most often only referred to as “the sisters of…” even though they were hugely talented in their own right,’ the singer said.
‘I came across them in 2017 when working on my 3Arena show wanting to project onstage the names of exceptional people, especially largely forgotten exceptional Irish women, who contributed hugely to our culture in Ireland. I was curious as to how I’d never heard of them and their artistic contribution to Irish culture and in business, through extraordinary textile craftwork and literature.’
She added: ‘I was delighted when my friend and wonderful producer Maggie Breathnach and Sky Arts agreed we should collaborate to make a documentary telling their story. We hope you love discovering the amazing sisters in this special piece of documented history as much as we loved making it.’ Lily & Lolly: The Forgotten Yeats Sisters will air on March 8 on Sky Arts and NOW