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The Tower of Yeats

The Tower of Yeats may not be on everyone's bucket list on "must see in Ireland!" but it is definitely worth a quick visit. If you're not a poetry buff then you're probably wondering, "who is Yeats guy and why on earth does he have a tower named after him?" William Butler Yeats was one of Ireland greatest poets and a central figure in the Irish literary revival. His work spanned in both the 19th and 20th century and, after all he accomplished, he is considered one of the most important poets in the English language. 


The Tower came later in his life and holds significant symbolic meaning. Yeats purchased the tower in 1917, and it quickly became his retreat. It held great personal and literary significance to him allowing him to write a collection titled The Tower (1928). The tower itself became a symbol for him representing both the struggles of aging and his desire for creative isolation. In his tower collection, it is seen to be a metaphor for Yeats' own aging process, his reflections on the past, as well as his attempts to preserve and solidify his artistic legacy.  For Yeats, his tower was not only a place for reflection but a symbol of defiance against the passage of time. The poems he wrote while in the tower engage themes of death, loss, and spiritual transformation.

Overall, Yeats' work captures the essence of Ireland's cultural and political struggles and the typical universal themes of love, aging, and mortality. His tower played a very important and symbolic role in both his personal and creative life. His legacy as a poet is linked to his reflections on the national identity of Ireland and his own personal journey through life.

So, now that you know a bit more about this talented poet and the significance of his tower - next time you're County Galway, pop over to see the place where all the magic happened!



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