Mr Yeats to cut his own birthday cake!

CILLIAN Rogers will once again transform himself into the wonderful 8ft high Mr Yeats to join the Yeats Day birthday celebrations on Tuesday June 13th in Sligo. Mr Yeats will help cut the annual gorgeous birthday cake – donated by the ever- generous O’Hehir’s Bakery – outside Hargadon’s Pub at 1.15pm. He will entertain passers by during lunch- time and he may even be persuaded to join in a photograph, but only if you supply him with a piece of cake! Mr Yeats is kindly donated and supported by Eileen Monahan, as an annual gift to Sligo for Yeats Day, although he has made a number of other appearances at literary events. He first came to life on Yeats 150th birthday, as part of Yeats2015.

The work of creating the marionette took Cillian and his wife Imelda three months – at their Workhouse Arts Studio at Dromore West. Cillian and Imelda have worked in street theatre and festivals for many years, delighting audiences around Ireland and abroad with their imaginative and colourful pieces. Cillian particularly enjoys taking part in giant costumes in parades and while the work is always physically strenuous, he says his main ambition is ‘ to inspire children.’ So come and sing happy birthday to Mr Yeats at 1.15pm on O’Connell St, right outside Hargadons and remember – the cake is free!