The National Library of Ireland is delighted to announce that Director Dr Audrey Whitty has been appointed Honorary President of the Yeats Society Sligo.
The honour was conferred during the opening event of the 66th Yeats International Summer School in Sligo on 24 July. The event was also live streamed at the National Library.
This recognition reflects the National Library of Ireland’s deep connection to Yeats. The National Library of Ireland (NLI) played a formative role in the poet’s early life, and that bond has been enduring. In a remarkable act of generosity, the Yeats family donated the poet’s extensive archive to the NLI between 1939 and 2017.
Their permanent exhibition Yeats: The Life and Works of William Butler Yeats at the National Library of Ireland draws on this material and invites visitors to delve into Yeats’ deep engagement with Ireland, literature, folklore, theatre, politics, and mysticism.
The Yeats International Summer School, now in its 66th year, is the longest-running literary summer school in the world. Over the years, it has cultivated a vibrant, international community of readers, writers, and academics. The NLI has been a regular participant in the Summer School throughout its history.