Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The first Montessori school in Ireland was established in 1920 in the Mercy Convent in Waterford owing to the interest and influence of the Mother Superior, de Sales Lowry. Madame Montessori visited the convent in 1927 and an address, suitably worded for the great occasion, was read by Ms Winnie Cummins, later Sister Redemptoris, who died in 2013 at the age of 99 years.Winnie Cummins happened to be an aunt of mine. One might ask what has this to do with Yeats. The same Winnie Cummins was part of the welcoming party when W.B. Yeats visited the Mercy convent in 1926. Yeats, as a Senator, was a member of a Government committee that was investigating the state of Irish education at the time. The school in Waterford had a reputation for modern and enlightened teaching systems and using the Montessori method which placed an emphasis on spontaneity and self-expression.

My aunt had a vivid recollection of Yeats's arrival and recalled that he walked up the convent drive attired in a long frieze coat, slouched hat and spats. As he approached she overheard someone make the comment: "Look at him now with his spats and he hasn't the religion of a cow". This disparaging remark referred to Yeats's known interest in mysticism and spiritualism which aroused considerable disapproval, even hostility, in the conservative religious climate of the 1920s.

According to Raymond Cowel, in his book W. B. Yeats, the poet was impressed by the educational methods he observed in the school and the balance that was struck between intellectual, practical, aesthetic and spiritual values. It was following his visit to St. Otteran's school, which was part of the Mercy Convent, and his experience in the Montessori and senior classes that he wrote his poem "Among School Children",which begins with the stanza:

I walk through the long school room questioning;

A kind nun in a white hood replies;

The children learn to cipher and to sing;

To study reading books and histories;

To cut and sew, be neat in everything

In the best modern way - the children's eyes

In momentary wonder stare upon

A sixty-year old smiling public man.

That is an example of how Yeats often took, as a starting point to a poem, an everyday occasion in his life.

On my recent visit to Taiwan, I visited a university which was celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Yeats. The university has an excellent society that places great importance in the works of Yeats. Indeed, Yeats was offered a three-month contract in Taipei with a £1,000 fee, which was a very considerable sum in those days. He refused the offer as his son was said to be very unwell at that time. These are but a few occasions where the name of Yeats crossed my path.

As has been mentioned by many members, Yeats was a member of this House. His son was also a distinguished member of the House.

Senator Norris spoke of the musicality of Yeats's voice. Certainly, the musicality of Senator Norris's voice was clearly evident here today in his few words.

Like others, I join in thanking Senator O'Keeffe and her committee and wishing them every success with the excellent programme of events that they have put in place. I also thank the Minister for providing €500,000 of funding for this year's events.

Yeats's great love of Maud Gonne is well documented. It is fitting that when his coffin was returned to his beloved Ireland in 1948 that it was met by Seán MacBride, who was the Minister for External Affairs and a son of Maud Gonne.