The Isle of Innisfree is an uninhabited island within Lough Gill, in County Sligo, Ireland, where Yeats spent his summers as a child.
Yeats never actually lived on Innisfree. Nor does anyone else. But it does sit as a landmark of 20th Century poetry, nevertheless. Here it is, so you don't have to click.
The Lake Isle of InnisfreeBy William Butler Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
Here's some more information about how you can educate yourself about Yeats and Sligo–and get a fantastic meal while you are at it.
And here are a few more images from our time in Sligo, including the grave of William Butler Yeats which bears some words from his poem, “Under Ben Bulben.”
Sligo and the Lake Isle of Innisfree are on the Wild Atlantic Way of Ireland.
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What a beautiful location. I’d love to take a long exposure of the water!
There are so many candidates for long exposures here in Ireland, Matt. I’m going to have to start carrying my tripod more. First, I’m going to buy a lighter tripod, though. The main reason I don’t carry mine is that it’s too damn heavy.
I’m in the market for a new tripod as well, Tom. Thinking a Manfrotto but they can be quite heavy. What is your current brand?
Hi Matt. Don’t know if you’ll see this. I missed it a year and a half ago when you posted. I ended up buying a Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod. I still hate to carry it around. And I cracked one of the legs in a freak accident the other day. Expensive screw up on my part.