Yeats Society honoured by County Council
SLIGO County Council hosted a Civic Reception for the Board and membership of the Yeats Society to celebrate their sixty years of outstanding service. The reception was hosted by Cathaoirleach Councillor Seamus Kilgannon, and other speakers were former President Yeats Society Maura McTighe and current Chairman of the Board, Chris Gonley.
Also in attendance were Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Councillor Hubert Keaney, Councillor Tom MacSharry and Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady.
Former Presidents of the Yeats Society who attended along with Maura McTighe were Damien Brennan, Joe Cox and Martin Enright.
In his address the Cathaoirleach said the reception was being hosted “to honour those special people who have served, and those who continue to serve the Yeats Society with such distinction.”
From the time the Society was established over 60 years ago, successive committees and countless members and volunteers have worked with passion, energy and spirit to promote and preserve the cultural legacy of Sligo’s most iconic literary figure.
“Through your work, you have brought a new appreciation of the wonderful landscape that inspired and enchanted Yeats.
“The unifying theme that has characterised all your endeavours is ‘inclusion.’
“There may have been a time long ago when the magical world of Yeats was perceived in some quarters as the exclusive preserve of the academic or literary historian, through your efforts, this is certainly not the case today.
“All that is required of the reader is a sense of imagination and wonder.
“While Jack B Yeats and WB Yeats are cultural icons of international repute, their inspiration was decidedly local.
“Jack B. Yeats famously remarked that he never created a painting which did not have in it “at least a thought of Sligo”, and he was greatly influenced by the people and the landscape of this beautiful county.
“While Sligo was also WB Yeats’ spiritual home, he had a universal message that is appreciated and cherished by generations of people all over the world.
“Through the International Summer School and Yeats Day, you encourage people to re-appraise and enjoy his work, to offer exciting new perspectives through various artistic and literary mediums.
“Over the years you have ensured that the vision articulated by the Society’s founding members has been honoured, and you ensure this vision is lovingly conveyed to a new generation.
“In 2017 Sligo celebrated its status as ‘European Capital of Volunteering, an accolade which was bestowed in recognition of the outstanding contribution volunteers such as the Yeats Society.
“In this context, I will pay a public and heart-felt tribute to the many volunteers who have been the heart-beat and inspiration of your Society, the discreet, modest, unassuming members we honour this evening.”