Most visited Hopkins Lectures

About the Hopkins Festival Committee

The Gerard Manley Hopkins Committee is a voluntary, community-based cultural tourism development. Each year, since 1987, during the last week of July, they have organised and run The Hopkins International Festival with music, poetry, lectures, field-trips and more in honour of English poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins.

In 2009. the Hopkins Society celebrates 21st birthday in Arus an Uachtaran

Why do enthusiasts, fans of the poetry of the English poet Hopkins devote time, energy to run this Hopkins poetry festival? Each year, since 1987, the Hopkins Society, sharing a common, agreed vision, busily organise the Gerard Manley Hopkins International Festival. The Festival takes place in Newbridge College, Ireland, during the last week of July.

About The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society

In 1987, The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society Ltd. was founded to celebrate and foster the poetry the Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins (obviously!) and, in particular, his association with Co. Kildare and Ireland.

Each July, in Newbridge College, The Hopkins Society also celebrate Hopkins's interest in Music, Painting and the Arts and even in Conservation.

In the interests of sustainability, the Hopkins Society Ltd. was incorporated. The vision of the Society was clearly set out when this was done. This has proved to have been a useful support ensuring best practice and proper controls and ensuring we survive into our 26th year.

Why has this voluntary, not for profit Society, succeeded since 1987?

Was it because of the richness and excitement of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins? Perhaps, it is, in part, because of the breadth and depth of interests inspired by Hopkins that this Festival has not just survived, but has thrived and expanded since 1987.

The Hopkins Festival has grown from year to year because of a focussed vision which is shared by all the Committee working closely with The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society.

The Best Literary Festival in Ireland?

Not surprizingly, The Hopkins Festival has been described 'as the best literary festival in Ireland ' (Editor, The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature). Not only have they a full Programme with Music (Classical and Traditional Irish), Poetry, Art Exhibitions, Lectures but it also boasts an enthusiastic Youth Programme.

T he Society's major undertaking each year is the Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival, a poetry and arts festival held in the last week of July.

Legal Status

The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society, a Not For Profit Company limited by Guarantee and approved for Tax Relief under Section 484 of T.C.A. 1997. Sponsors and Donors who wish to avail of this Tax Relief should contactthe Society for details. Reg. No:268039. Ellistown, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Aims of the Irish Gerard Manley Hopkins Society Ltd.

To explore and to give a forum for the writings of Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins
To promote the cause of poetry, and artistic endeavour
in relation to Gerard Manley Hopkins in Ireland and worldwide
To promote, foster and encourage cultural, artistic activity in general and poetry in particular.
To study and highlight the connection of English poet,
Gerard Manley Hopkins with Ireland, in particular, his connection with Monasterevin, in Co. Kildare.
To create a Forum for International, Irish and local artistic talent.

Developments Since 1987

The Society has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the dedication and energy of its Members and also, thanks to generous sponsorship from the business community, the Arts Council, State Agencies and others.

It started out as a community based, voluntary undertaking but in 1998, The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society was incorporated and registered as a Not for Profit Company Limited.

This step was taken to ensure sustainability and to facilitate further expansion and development.

Since 1987, the GM Hopkins Society has built up strong links with several universities : the National University of Ireland at Maynooth, Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.