From Under Ben Bulben by W.B. Yeats

From Under Ben Bulben

Under bare Ben Bulben’s head

In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid.

An ancestor was rector there

Long years ago, a church stands near,

By the road an ancient cross.

No marble, no conventional phrase;

On limestone quarried near the spot

By his command these words are cut:

Cast a cold eye

On life, on death.

Horseman, pass by!

W. B. Yeats, 1865 - 1939

Photos taken by Matthew of Ben Bulben Mountain and Drumcliff Churchyard

Painting of Ben Bulben and the Garavogue River by Aoife

Photo taken by Aoife at the Back Avenue of Ben Bulben in the distance

Photo taken by Tara at the Back Avenue of Ben Bulben 

Shaded line drawing sketch of Ben Bulben by Anthony

Red Hanrahan’s Song about Ireland by W.B. Yeats

Red Hanrahan’s Song about Ireland

The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand,

Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;

Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,

But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes

Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The wind has bundled up the clouds high over

Knock-narea,

And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.

Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;

But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet

Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The yellow pool has overflowed high up on

Clooth-na-Bare,

For the wet winds are blowing out the clinging air;

Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;

But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood

Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.HH

W. B. Yeats, 1865 - 1939

"The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand"

"The wind has bundled up the clouds high over

Knock-narea"

"And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say"

Photos taken by Janell 

Yeats Day Photography Project - Hazelwood

Yesterday Lisa and Janell brought the trainees on a photography outing to Hazelwood. Located only 5km outside Sligo Town, the Hazelwood Demesne is located at Half Moon Bay along the shores of Lough Gill. W.B Yeats poem "The Song of Wandering Aengus" was influenced by Hazelwood. The short walks here are among the most beautiful in the country, with views from the trail towards Church Island, Cottage Island and Goat Island and the full expanse of Lough Gill. It was a beautiful summer's day and we took some gorgeous pictures of the surrounding area. Hazelwood is truly a beautiful place and it is highly recommended for locals and tourists to visit it.  Check out the Nature Gallery for a selection of photos taken by trainees. 

Photo taken by Aoife at Half Moon Bay in Hazelwood

Photo taken by Tara at Hazelwood

Yeats Day Photography Project - Glencar

To celebrate Yeats Day Sligo CTC will be filling their blog with poems from the gifted Yeats. Trainees are taking photographs of significant places associated with W.B. Yeats poems for the blog. Yesterday Lisa and Janell brought a group of trainees on a photography outing to Glencar Lake and Waterfall. It was a beautiful day and we took some gorgeous photographs of the waterfall and the landscape surrounding it. We also went to the pier at the Lake Isle of Innisfree, an uninhabited island within Lough Gill where Yeats spent his summers as a child. This was a very peaceful tranquil place and we got some truly beautiful shots of the lake and the island.

Earlier in the week, Matthew got some lovely photographs of Benbulben, Drumcliff Church and Yeats Grave which is located in the Drumcliff cemetery. Karl, Philip and Andrew took a trip down to Sligo town to have a look and take photographs of the Yeats Statue and the Yeats Murals. Next week we hope to take photographs of Dooney Rock, Slishwood, Hazelwood and Knocknarea. We will be posting these photographs on the blog between the June 7th to 13th.

Photo taken by Aoife of  Glencar Waterfall

Photos taken by Janell

Celeberate Yeats Day 2016 in Sligo CTC