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| Thoor Ballylee is a medieval tower house. County Galway has many examples of these square towers; this is a particularly nice one. In a very pretty location beside a trout stream, it was for some years the home of the poet William Butler (W.B.) Yeats, who later won a Nobel prize for literature. |
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After the Yeats family moved out in 1929 it fell into disuse, but was restored as 'Yeats Tower' in 1965 and fitted out as a Yeats museum, containing an interesting collection of first editions as well as items of furniture.
The adjoining cottage is fitted out as a tea room and shop. The tower has been wired for sound and a pre-recorded commentary can be played on a push-button system. In addition part of the ground floor has been adapted for an audio-visual presentation on the years of Yeats's occupancy; however the rest of the history of the tower is ignored.
The building dates from the 16th century and was bought by Yeats for a nominal sum in 1916 from the Congested Districts Board. The original fortification was erected by the DeBurgo family, who established themselves in Connacht after 1200.
Map of Thoor Ballylee - and more information about W.B.Yeats including some of Yeats' poetry.
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