Local Writes of Passage

Local writes of passage_6th class pupils from Star of the Sea

June 13th 2013 was the 148th birthday of one of this country’s literary giants, W.B. Yeats, and to celebrate the local-born writer the Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA) held an annual Yeats recital at Sandymount Green. Shortly after 11.30am the small park drew in a crowd with renditions of the great man’s best-loved pieces. The event opened with actress Glynis Casson narrating and singing some well-known works accompanied by harpist and arranger Claire Roach.

Attended by local dignitaries, business people and pupils of the nearby Star of the Sea primary school, readings of Yeats were provided by local labour Councillor Dermot Lacey with a fine rendition of September 1913.
Guest of honour at the event was the British Ambassador to Ireland, Dominick Chilcott CMG. Mr Chilcott spoke briefly about how his son had recently completed his A Level in English which included works by the D4 native, before his own reading of The Lake Isle of Innisfree to an enthralled crowd.
The hour-long event was austerely watched over by the Albert Power sculpted bust of Yeats, who may have had some say in casting warm sunshine over the proceedings.

Above: Claire O’Toole Harpist.
Below: Sixth class pupils from Star of the Sea School.
Photos by Ross Waldron.

By Eric Murphy