Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, for coming before the House to take this matter, which relates to the well-being of and future plans relating to the artefacts from Yeats' Tower at Thoor Ballylee outside Gort in County Galway. As he is probably aware, this building and the artefacts contained within it are, from a historical, recreational and cultural perspective, of special importance to the people of south Galway. He may also be aware that the building was completely restored - replete with a collection of first editions of Yeats' work and also items of furniture - by the Kiltartan Gregory Cultural Society in 1965. Following the flooding of the Cloon River in 2009, however, Thoor Ballylee was extensively damaged and has since not been open to the public. All of the furniture and ancillary items were removed an placed in storage. Despite significant works recently undertaken by Fáilte Ireland to protect the structure, it appears unlikely that Thoor Ballylee will ever be reopened in its previous capacity as a point of interest for tourists.

I previously raised this issue on the Adjournment in the Seanad. At that stage, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht indicated that responsibility for the building may very well be transferred to his Department and stated that he is considering the possibility of establishing a cultural and educational centre there, which I very much welcome. I am raising this matter again because the tower and the artefacts previously held there are critical to any tourism revival in south Galway. Shortly after becoming a public representative in 2011, I set about working extensively on this issue as a means of maximising the area's connection to W. B. Yeats. Thoor Ballylee is steeped in connections with Yeats. He took up residence there in 1917 and used it as a summer home for his family until he left in 1929. South Galway has suffered badly in recent years and it needs a tourism boost. The allocation of some of the artefacts from the tower in alternative accommodation is critical to the revival of the tourism sector in the area.

The south Galway connection to Yeats should be just as important in the context of tourism as is the poet's grave in Drumcliffe, County Sligo, which tens of thousands of people visit annually. The latter highlights the tourism potential of Thoor Ballylee to south Galway and the people who live there. I have always advocated the tower being reopened. I wrote to the Minister to request that funding be made available to facilitate such an eventuality. If the tower is reopened, it is unlikely that all of the artefacts relating to it will be able to be housed there because, as already stated, it is proposed to put in place a cultural and educational centre at the site. I request, therefore, that the Minister consider housing the artefacts relating to and previously contained in Thoor Ballylee in alternative accommodation, such as local museums or other suitable locations, in Gort and the surrounding area. If this is done, members of the public will be able to view the artefacts and the area will receive a tourism boost. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.