Joyce celebrates Yeats’ birthday in Sligo

WILLIAM Butler Yeats and James Joyce had what could be described as an ‘ on- off ’ relationship; Joyce used to refer to the older man as ‘ Oul Yeats’. There was mutual respect but neither wanted to be seen openly supporting and encouraging the other, perhaps most evident in Joyce’s letter to Yeats in which he said “It is now thirty years since you held out your helping hand...” . The letter, and many others between the two men, is part of a new exhibition in the National Library of Ireland, Dublin, which now holds the biggest archive of Yeats’ work in the world.

However, for the past number of years, Yeats Day in Sligo – June 13th and Bloomsday in Dublin – June 16th have both found space in their programmes to celebrate each other, as a suitable acknowledegement for both literary giants.

On Yeats Day, Tuesday June 13th at 1.30pm, Paul Murray will give a talk/ performance in Hargadon’s Bar in O’Connell St, Sligo, as part of his series of works ‘ James Joyce & Me.’ And no better man for the job, as May Murray, James Joyce’s mother, is the same branch of Murrays as Paul. And Paul knows his Joyce well, having started reading Ulysses as a young man and having devoured all of Joyce’s other works and poems en route.

In his talk, Paul will reveal how Joyce often used his own family members as models for characters in his stories. Paul will concentrate on some of the stories from Dubliners, one of James Joyce` s most accessible works. He will also discuss Joyce’s long poem at Yeats in his long poem The Holy Office where he lightly mocks the ornate Celtic gilding on the covers of Yeats` s books, and Yeats association with the Abbey Theatre, which Joyce describes as the Mumming Company. Despite the jibes, Yeats arranged gifts of money for Joyce from Lady Gregory and introduced him to important editors and publishers. They wrote to each other frequently and Joyce would start the letters simply with ‘ Dear Yeats’. This event is free and will be preceded by an open mic for Yeats’ poetry to honour the poet’s birthday.