In the Old Language… Following the Path of the Poet

The wild and rugged west coast of Ireland is one of the most luminous places on earth, and Sligo, in the northwest, is the epitome of wonder, a mystical region of transcendent beauty, where spirits inhabit waterfalls, mountains, trees and air. Sligo is also a land of scholars and saints, a land steeped in history that is centuries old. One has only to visit there to understand why it became so beloved by the poet William Butler Yeats. After passing childhood summers and school holidays there, Yeats would revisit Sligo throughout his life in his writings, and ultimately ask to be buried there.

He and Sligo are the focus of this book. Even now, one meets him unexpectedly at every turn - as he slips into a shop, or crosses the road over to the Post Office, or wanders at nightfall throughout the churchyard at Drumcliff - his presence so tangible that one is almost able to see him. In the Old Language, following the path of the Poet invites you to step into this world, to follow his footsteps and see for yourself.

Portions of this collection of poems, prose and photographs were begun in Sligo in 2007, at the Yeats International Summer School, a continuing resource of scholarship and inspiration for all who cherish William Butler Yeats.