Sir, – Dan Mulhall’s excellent idea that the National Library of Ireland establish a Yeats branch in Sligo is to be applauded (Letters, December 15th). He is right in saying that WB Yeats’s Nobel centenary is a good time to celebrate his rich literary legacy.
Another way to honour Ireland’s greatest poet would be if Yeats, deservedly, were a prescribed poet at Leaving Cert every year. Over 26 years, in 2001-2026, Yeats is a prescribed poet but 14 times. Twelve cohorts of students miss out on studying a poet so central to Irish culture.
And as for that dreadful question, “did Yeats come up?”, he was only examined six times since 2001.
Perhaps he’ll “come up” in 2024? – Yours, etc,
READ MORE
NIALL MacMONAGLE,
Leinster Square,
Dublin 6
