From Galway stone, Yeats made a monumental poetic symbol. “I declare this tower is my symbol,” he said.
Ballylee Castle, a 14th century Norman stronghold had fallen into disrepair and disuse by the time Yeats stumbled upon the structure. He took note of it because of its proximity to the beautiful Mary Hynes, who lived nearby. When on the verge of marriage to Georgie Hyde-Lees, Yeats cast about for a place to settle and recalled the abandoned tower, now in the possession of the Congressional District Board. An additional draw was its nearness to the home of his benefactor, Lady Isabella Augusta Gregory.
“I the poet William Yeats,
With common sedge and sea green slates
And smithy work from the Gort forge
Restored the tower for my wife, George
And on my heirs, I lay a curse
If they should alter for the worse,
From fashion or an empty mind
What Raftery built and Scott designed…”
This poem changed as plans were thwarted… The rats got at the dry thatch, for example. So “common sedge” became “old mill boards” and no longer “laying a curse” the poem turned fatalistic:
“And may these characters remain,
When all is ruin once again.”
The Yeats family spent summers here until 1929. The space inspired much of Yeats’ poetry from that time:
The winding stair:
Yeats’ desk at which he composed “A Prayer For My Daughter” while George was giving birth to her in their nearby bedroom:
And the stream which ran beside the the tower, into which George would drop a fishing line from the window.
His wife, George is a very intriguing lady… She married Yeats in 1917, when she was 25 and the poet was 52. Georgie was intelligent, educated and well versed in occult studies. George’s previously undiscovered “ability” at automatic writing was revealed during the couple’s honeymoon. She felt that she was the medium through which the writing emerged. This automatic script continued for more than two years. At times it was intense, coming forth in various forms. The writing centered on the symbolism of the sun and moon – ideas so exciting that Yeats immediately made plans to publish. The end result was “A Vision” – published in 1925.
Married life somewhat settled the poet – a man who to this point had been consumed with unrequited love for his muse Maud Gonne. Maud was actually one of nine of Yeats’ muses. In his book, “W.B. Yeats and the Muses,” Joseph M. Hassett explains;
“from the outset of his career Yeats was convinced that art at its most sublime springs from the influx of a supernal form of knowledge far beyond the realm of ordinary discourse. In following this belief Yeats was predisposed to accept the Greek idea that poetry is inspired by the Muses, as expressed in Plato’s dictum that “all good poets…compose their beautiful poems not by art [techne] but because they are inspired and possessed” by the Muse who speaks through them…
Yeats’ wife Georgie, bore him two children – a daughter, Anne and a son -Michael. After the birth of Michael the automatic writing seems to have ceased and with it, Georgie’s interest in sex. And as you can imagine, the passionate poet once again had other women in his life – a situation, George seemed to tolerate. At the time of his death in France in 1939, his last muse – Edith Shackleton-Heald, was beside him along with Georgie.
Wow, very interesting history there!
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Thanks, Rashmi. This was a hidden gem we hadn’t discovered in our travels before. Was really a cool find!
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Fascinating history, thanks, Meg! And great pictures… xo
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Glad you enjoyed! This was a heretofore undiscovered treasure! I was so excited to see it! xo
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That’s a great back story, and really dig the castle. The roof is so cool! 😃
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Right? I’d love to live in this place! It’s so quiet and serene. Yeats was a pretty interesting guy…
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Yeah, he was. Most writers are. 😉
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You mean slightly mad?!? 😜
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Ain’t nothin wrong with a little mad. Keeps things interesting. 😃
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I agree! 😃
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Trust me, I live with one. Never dull. 😃
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J writes?!? I didn’t know that! That’s awesome!
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Well, not really a writer, but as an artistic person, she does crazy fairly well. 😃
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Ah, yes, same side of the brain or something! 😜
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Creativeness breeds interesting. 😃
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Interesting. And I love the staircase.
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It winds in a tight circle all the way to the roof. Coming down was exciting!
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Yikes. I’m so afraid of heights… that may not have gone well for me…!
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I bet it was a fun place for his children to play though!
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What a fantastic post! I love history in all its forms anyway, and as it happens I didn’t know that much about Yeats – thank you, Meg 🙂
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Thanks Nathalie. He’s a pretty interesting guy… As I am finding out as well. I’m completely intrigued by his ill-fated love story and with Georgie’s automatic writing period. Must delve deeper!
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Very interesting, I love a little peak into other people’s lives and marriages.
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Thanks, Nicola. I didn’t know much about his personal life, just some of the public, so learning all this was super interesting. Glad you enjoyed!
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Automatic writing is such a fascinating idea. Thanks for the tour of Yeat’s home.
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Thanks, Bernadette! I am fascinated by it too. I’m going to explore further…
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Great photos and info Meg. Thanks for sharing this
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I’m glad you enjoyed it. I hope your feeling better? Vision clearing?
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Not until they finally do thus surgery. Ugh
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Oh man. Is it scheduled soon?
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I just plain love when you post these. Hope you are having a marvelous time.
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Having a blast! Thanks, Rita!
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Good!
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A thorough visit, rich in history.
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Thanks, Jacqueline!
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I’m so jealous of your trip. Living the pics!
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Thanks, Phil. Having a great time! You’ve never been? If not, you hafta!!!
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This is a great post, I am very fond of Yeats (no surprise there) and I like A Vision as well even if it is a bit of a head scratcher… Yeats was a very occult poet
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I too, am fond of Yeats. Know him through his poetry. Didn’t know much about his personal life however… I feel a new obsession coming on. His nine muses? Automatic writing? I’m all in…
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Mad into the occult he was… A Vision is bat shit crazy but you cannot understand the modernist classics he wrote without it
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I adore the idea of automatic writing. I swear all serious writers experience it to an extent. The words just emanate sometimes
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Big with the surrealists, I will do a post soon
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Excellent, I look forward to it
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Hopefully I will get round to it soon… Do you not like the new poem?
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On my way….
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I am bossy aren’t i
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You are! But at least you’re not indifferent *wink*
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And…no comment?
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Check your spam. I’ve been landing there lately. I left a comment
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Are you keeping me in spam purgatory?
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Sorry dozed off I got the comment re not indifferent
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And the comment I left on your poem?
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Hmmm not there… That is bad
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I can’t find it in spam either
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In pending?!? Oh no …
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I tried again
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No dice again
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What the hell??? I don’t know how to fix this… Maybe they will show up in time? Do keep checking, I loved the poem
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Hmmm still no dice…I am quite put out with WordPress
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I am as well… I wonder if it’s only with the mobile platform or if I try using the browser to comment. I will try. At least if a comment makes it to spam you can allow it and it will fix it between us at a minimum
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Hmmm you know I always like to hear your opinion, it means a lot to me, after all we collaborate on work. Ah WordPress
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I tried a third time, through the browser, saw it disappear… I’m hoping there is a time lag and you’ll eventually find them in spam. I’m so honored that you value my opinion. As do I with yours. WP tries to improve something and it screws something else up. I will be in touch
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