Yeats & Irish Nationalism

In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Ireland’s cultural revival unfolded not only in politics and literature, but also in the realm of spiritual experimentation. This lecture explores the relationship between Irish poet and writer W. B. Yeats (1865–1939), esoteric thought, and the emergence of Irish nationalism.

Drawing on the research of Dr. Jenny Butler, it examines how occultism, mysticism, and alternative spiritual traditions intersected with the search for Irish cultural identity during the Celtic Revival. Yeats’s involvement with organizations such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, along with his fascination with folklore, ritual, and visionary philosophy, shaped a symbolic language through which the Irish nation could be imagined and expressed. Free with student i.d.; $5 donation suggested. If not doing so via Meetup, RSVP to info@SwedLib.org to reserve a seat.

Dr. Jenny Butler is a scholar of religion and folklore based at University College Cork Ireland, where she is a lecturer in the Study of Religions. Her research focuses on contemporary Paganism, esotericism, vernacular religion, and the intersections between spirituality, nationalism, and cultural identity. She has published widely on modern Pagan traditions in Ireland and Europe, examining how myth, ritual, and folklore are reinterpreted within modern religious movements. Butler is the author of “Irish Paganism: The World of the Witch” (2019) and numerous articles on esotericism, ritual practice, and religious identity. Her work bridges folklore studies, religious studies, and cultural history.