AN open-air gallery of artwork dedicated to Irish poet WB Yeats has been unveiled in Sligo.
His granddaughter Caitríona Yeats unveiled the first of five pieces of art, which are being permanently installed on the outside of buildings linked to the Yeats family in Sligo town.
The poet, who born in Dublin but spent much of his childhood in Co Sligo and is buried there, was regarded as the driving force behind Ireland's literary revival and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923.
The artwork will be securely fixed to the outside facade of five premises with protective glass and will be illuminated for night-time viewing.
The exhibition was launched over the weekend during celebrations to mark Yeats Day, which took place on Monday.
Each piece is a collaboration between an established artist and an internationally-noted appreciator of Yeats.
The poet's granddaughter was a collaborator in the first piece of art installed along with artist Jane Murtagh.
Their artwork was unveiled on Sunday at Pollexfen House - the home of Yeats’s grandparents - and is based on the poem Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven.
"I am delighted to have been asked to be the first collaborator in this project which brings the work of my grandfather to the public in such an accessible manner," said Ms Yeats.
"Pollexfen House is a fitting place to locate the work and for him to be remembered and celebrated.
"Jane was a pleasure to work with and I am delighted with the unique art piece she has produced from our discussions."
The idea for the open-air gallery came from local business owners, Suzy McCanny, Keville Burns and Tom Ford.
"With the strong connection between Yeats and Wine Street, we felt it would be an appropriate location to honour the legacy of Yeats in some way," said Mr Ford.
"We had the idea that it might be the world’s first free permanent open-air art gallery and it would bring the poetry of Yeats to the public in a unique way."
