ORIGIN

In 1957 as part of a national tourism promotion drive (An Tostal), a small group of enthusiasts met in Sligo and decided to hold a Yeats Country Festival. The festival held on 11-15 May 1958 was a great success. The highlight was 'Salute to Yeats', directed by Jim McGarry, with Mrs. M. Watson, Jo Lappin and the Mullaney brothers reciting Yeats's poetry.

Elated by that success, the group - Frank Wynne (Chairman), Nora Niland, Eileen Lambert (Hon Secretary), Sheelah Kirby,Tom McEvilly, Fr. Tom Moran and Jim McGarry(all deceased) met again on 20th May and established the Yeats Society Sligo. Its purpose was to organize a Yeats Summer School, to which Tom Mullaney was appointed Hon. Secretary on 5th July 1959. Dr. T.R.Henn of St. Catharine's College Cambridge, a native of Sligo, was Director of Sligo's first Yeats International Summer School, held in late August 1960. He remained a guiding light for many years.

The School, of course, has since grown in strength and prestige and its story is told in most interesting detail in Jim McGarry's 'The Dream I Knew', 1990.

The warm reception given locally to visitors and the generous sponsorship by local business people also played an important part. The diligent work of YSS Presidents, supported by long serving Secretaries Mrs. Kathleen Moran and Mrs. Georgina Wynne, many council and other members over the years must also be acknowledged.

Successive presidents were: F.Wynne, J.Keohane, T.Mullaney,Canon T.P.S.Wood, Mrs E.Lambert, J.Keohane (2nd time), A.Cantwell, M.McTighe, Edward J. Wylie-Warren, Michael Keohane, Aleck Crichton' and currently Joe Cox. However, with success came increased student numbers, and accomodation problems. Thus in 1973, it was with enormous pleasure the YSS greeted the magnanimous gesture of the Directors of Allied Irish Banks who presented the Society with their Hyde Bridge premises as a memorial to the Yeats family.

This building is now the Headquarters of the international Yeats Society, from which the Society keeps in contact with members all over the world, and from where the Yeats International Summer School and Winter School are administered, as well as the day-to-day running of the Society. A permanent Exhibition attracts visitors throughout the year, and there is also a fine Library.

The Sligo Art Gallery and Sligo Tea-Room also operate within the Yeats Memorial Building.