A Visit to Yeats’ Grave: Drumcliff, Co Sligo

The Pulitzer Prize winning poet W. B. Yeats died in France in 1939, but according to his wishes he was interned in the cemetery at St. Columba’s Church of Ireland. His request read…

“Under bare Ben Bulben’s head
In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid.
An ancestor was rector there
Long years ago, a church stands near,
By the road an ancient cross.
No marble, no conventional phrase;
On limestone quarried near the spot
By his command these words are cut:
Cast a cold eye
On life, on death.
Horseman, pass by!”

The grave sits directly outside the church door. While there, guests should inspect the view of Benbulben from behind the church, take a peek inside the lovely church, and stop by the tea room and gift shop which turns into a tappas restaurant in the evening.

More info:

• Discover Ireland: Drumcliffe Church
• Sligo Tourism: W.B. Yeats Grave at Drumcliffe Graveyard

Written by Liam Hughes

Liam splits his time between the US and County Tipperary, Ireland. In addition to providing private tours of Ireland, he spends much of his time hunting for broken dishes which he crafts into beautiful shard jewelry. Liam’s Tips | Website