The WB Yeats Society of NY was founded in 1990 to honor the Nobel-Prize-winning Irish poet who is arguably the greatest poet of the 20th century. The society holds lectures, launches book launches and shows films on William Butler Yeats and his circle. They have an international poetry competition and give an award to scholars for contributions to Yeats studies. Many events are held at the National Arts Club, where the poet and his father (the portrait painter John Butler Yeats) each spent time, and which is the official address of the society.

Their poetry awards are sometimes presented at a "literary luncheon," as part of the society's annual "Taste of the Yeats Summer School in Ireland," an all-day Saturday event held every April. (see Yeats Society, Sligo below for information on the summer school) The special "literary" menu also has been used at evening events at the National Arts Club. The dishes don't follow specific recipes -- the "Crazy Salad" or "Burstin' Chicken" can be any style -- but the printed menu always gives them the names from Irish literature and the context from which they were drawn. Other organizations are welcome to use this copy in full or part, as long as they include the following credit: "Based on literary menus created by the WB Yeats Society of NY, www.YeatsSociety.org.”

Other organizations are welcome to use this copy in full or part, as long as they include the following credit: “Based on literary menus created by the WB Yeats Society of NY, www.YeatsSociety.org.

Special thanks to WB Yeats Society President Andy McGowan for sharing this menu with us.

Gogarty Fruit Salad
McGuirk sat beside a Primus stove. Dr Tyrell sat with his back to a large stone on the top of which fruit salads were displayed.
–As I Was Going Down Sackville Street

Crazy Salad
It’s certain that fine women eat a crazy salad with their meat.
– Yeats’s A Prayer for My Daughter*

O’Casey scones
There she and Johnny had a nice tea with homemade scones well warmed in the oven, melting in your mouth before you’d time to sink your teeth into them.
–First the Green Blade

Mary Lavin Shepherd’s Pie
 What would I do if you were the kind of man who did like shepherd’s pie?..I think maybe I’d love you enough to try and make it–she laughed–if I could.

Christy Mahon’s Burstin’ Chicken
Nelly: And I brought you a little pullet– boiled and all she is.... Christy: It’s burstin’ surely.
J.M. Synge, Playboy of the Western World

Beckett Irish Stew
I peered into the pots. Irish stew.
–Molloy

Mary Lavin Scallops
Nicely browned, a delicious cheesy smelling sauce bubbled and winked around the brink of an earthenware pan. ‘Not scallops?’ she exclaimed appreciatively, licking her lips.
–A Family Likeness

John Coneely Chicken
I hope you have a good bit of bacon to put in the pot along with the chicken.
–John Coneely inPot of Broth

Beckett Irish Stew
 I peered into the pots. Irish stew.
–Molloy

Lady Gregory Evening Rice & Mixed Vegetables
I have brought my evening rice
 –Anashuya and Vijaya

Lake Isle of Innisfree Green Beans Almondine
Nine bean rows will I have there...           
– Yeats’s The Lake Isle of Innsfree

Somerville and Ross Potato Cakes
While I live I shall not forget her potato cakes. They came in hot and hot from a pot-oven, they were speckled with caraway seeds, they swam in salt butter, and we ate them shamelessly.
–Some Experiences of an Irish RM

James Joyce Comforting Bread Pudding
She made May collect the crusts and pieces of broken bread to help make Tuesday’s bread-pudding.
–Dubliners

Aengus Strudel
            ...silver apples of the moon..., golden apples of the sun...
– Yeats’s The Song of Wandering Aengus

Elizabeth Bowen Pavlova   (click for recipe)
This chocolate cake is a speciality of Danielstown’s. I do believe it’s a charm that they make it by, not a recipe
–The Last September

Coffee and Tea
            ...ould Sally brings me my bread and jug of tay...
– Yeats’s The Last Gleeman

 

An Irish Literary Menu

The WB Yeats Society of NY has held numerous events at which meals were served of items from the following list, and menus were printed with the literary connections. These events included “literary luncheons” at a number of the organization’s “Taste of the Yeats Summer School in Ireland” held at the Liederkranz Club, and a dinner after the showing of the film Young Cassidy, featuring Rod Taylor as a character based on Sean O’Casey and Michael Redgrave as W.B. Yeats, at the National Arts Club.

 

The Yeats Society in Sligo

The WB Yeats Society of NY was founded at the suggestion of the society in Ireland, founded in 1958, that every year presents the Yeats International Summer School the first fortnight of August and the Yeats Winter Weekend the last weekend in January. Sligo is where William Butler Yeats and his sisters, Lily and Lolly, and brother, Jack Butler Yeats, spent much of their childhood with their mother’s family, and is the locale of much of the W.B.’s poetry. The summer and winter events include tours of what has become known as “Yeats Country,” along with the lectures and readings. The summer school also offers week-long seminars, a poetry workshop, a drama workshop and theatrical and social events.  For more information, please visit Yeats Society of Sligo web site

 

 

Read articles about Ireland:

• one day in Ireland, sligo - birthplace of WB Yeats
• Thoor Ballylee, the adult home of WB Yeats in County Galway
• a tour of galway - the glorious past and swinging present
• In search of roots, part one, Dublin
• in search of roots, part two, Galway
• Of Leprechauns, Faeries and The Banshee
• irish cooking and St. patrick's day - recipes for your own luncheon or Irish party

back to food is art    contributors   contact us  top of page   membership agreement   home   about us

©In Mamas Kitchen. Inc.