The birth of poetic greatness

By Maria Gregoriou

Just as Russia is famous for breeding brilliant ballerinas, Ireland is famous for giving the literary world its most prestigious poets.

The poet who was the first Irishman to be honoured with the Nobel prize in 1923 is probably the poet that we all turn to when seeking out a love poem, a poem that marks historical events or one that has been moulded by the pen of a master. This poet is WB Yeats and two events are coming up to celebrate 150 years since his birth.

The first will be held on Monday at the University of Cyprus Axiothea Cultural Centre where professor Dionysis Kapsalis and the Ambassador of Ireland in Cyprus, Nicholas Twist, will talk about the poet’s life. Also members of the Theatre Workshop of the University of Cyprus will read selected poems in Greek and English.

The second event will be at the Soloneion Book Centre in Nicosia on Thursday.

Professor Kevin Barry from University College Galway in the west of Ireland will be using a variety of images to illustrate the themes that Yeats touched on in his poetry.

There will also be a poster exhibition on the life and work of the poet and the Embassy of Ireland will offer typical Irish refreshments so everyone can feel closer to the home of the poet, and also have some time to mingle.

150th Anniversary of the Birth of William B. Yeats
Tribute to the Irish poet. October 19. Cultural Centre of the University of Cyprus, Manor House on Axiotheas Street, Nicosia. 8.30pm. Free. In Greek and English. Tel: 22-894531
October 22. Soloneion Book Centre, Nicosia. 6.30pm. Free. In English. Tel: 22-666799

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.