Yeats Society Sligo
Arts and Crafts bank building of 1899 on Hyde Bridge that houses the permanent exhibition The Poetic Mind of WB Yeats and the free Hyde Bridge Gallery.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Yeats Building stands beside Hyde Bridge on the Garavogue river in the centre of Sligo. It was designed by the Belfast architect Vincent Craig in the Arts and Crafts style and completed in 1899 as a branch of the Belfast Banking Company. Its asymmetrical plan and red brick and stone details are unusual for a bank, and the bank chose the site because of its business ties with the Sligo Steam Navigation Company, which was owned by the family of the poet's mother, the Pollexfens.
The Allied Irish Banks later gave the building to Yeats Society Sligo in 1973 as a memorial to the Yeats family. The society had been founded in 1958 after a successful Yeats festival in the town, and it started the Yeats International Summer School in 1960, which is now one of the longest-running literary summer schools in the world. The building serves as the society's headquarters and as a venue for events.
Visitors can see the permanent exhibition The Poetic Mind of WB Yeats, which presents the poet's ideas through the image of the gyre and includes artworks by members of the Yeats family and a room on the family's links with Sligo. The building also has a gift shop and the Hyde Bridge Gallery, which shows work by new and established artists and is free to enter. The society offers talks, tours of the town and tours of the Yeats landscape in County Sligo on request.
Highlights
- Permanent exhibition The Poetic Mind of WB Yeats
- Artworks by members of the Yeats family and a room on the family and Sligo
- Arts and Crafts building of 1899 beside Hyde Bridge
- Free Hyde Bridge Gallery for contemporary art
- Talks, town walks and tours of the Yeats landscape by arrangement
Permanent exhibition
- The Poetic Mind of WB Yeats – A permanent exhibition built around the gyre, with artworks by the Yeats family and a room on the family’s connections with Sligo.
- Founded
- 1973
- Operated by
- Yeats Society Sligo
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free for children under 12. |
| Groups (8+ people) | €6 per personGroup visit with talk and optional tea or music; groups of more than 8 should contact the society. |
| Families | €182 adults and 2 children over 12. |
| Exhibition with talk | €10 |
| Exhibition with talk and library visit | €12 |
Prices are for The Poetic Mind of WB Yeats exhibition; entry to Hyde Bridge Gallery is free. Tickets can be booked online or bought at the door.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website has an accessibility statement for the site itself but gives no details about step-free access in the building.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €18 · 2 adults and 2 children over 12. |
Children under 12 enter free; the exhibition is aimed at readers of Yeats.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Sligo (Mac Diarmada) station · 15-min walk
Direct trains run from Dublin Connolly to Sligo (Mac Diarmada) station, a walk of about 15 minutes from the Yeats Building. Bus Éireann and other coach services serve Sligo bus station.
The building is in the centre of Sligo on the bank of the Garavogue, just off O’Connell Street.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
A small gift shop sells locally made jewellery, cards, books and Yeats Society merchandise. Poetry afternoon tea can be booked.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Weddings / ceremonies
Rooms and a library are available for hire, including for weddings and meetings.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group tours in the exhibition room last about one hour (talk of 30 to 40 minutes with poetry readings) and take up to 35 people. Town tours and driving tours of the Yeats landscape can be arranged; all tours must be booked in advance with at least three weeks notice for groups. |
