merrion street

The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan announced €5,000 in funding to Poetry Ireland to facilitate the display of Coole and The Library, Coole by WB Yeats in Leinster House on Culture Night, Friday 21st September. This event will tie in with a poetry reading in Seanad Éireann marking 100 years of women's suffrage presented by Poetry Ireland in collaboration with the National Museum of Ireland and the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The WB Yeats artworks were acquired at a Sotheby’s auction last September by American philanthropists from the Adrian Brinkherhoff Poetry Fund, who are patrons of Poetry Ireland and the paintings will subsequently be on display at Poetry Ireland HQ after this event.

Speaking today Minister Madigan said:

The homecoming of these paintings has particular poignancy around Culture Night where we celebrate the magic of what this nation has to offer to the world, while acknowledging the artistic genius of the past. The display of these paintings at the House of Government reflects the ongoing commitment of this Government to culture as outlined in Project Ireland 2040 and other initiatives in my Department, such as the Creative Ireland Programme. This event will be a truly special fusion of poetry, painting and philanthropy and an example of what can be achieved through cooperation and collaboration against the backdrop of the wonderful celebration that is Culture Night.