Gerard Manley Hopkins and his links to Monasterevin
Monasterevin, an Irish haven for Victorian Poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins
An overview of Hopkins's links to Monsterevin, home to The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival during the last week of July since 1987. On September 1, the Committee voted to move the Festival to Newbridge College. Each year since 1987, during the last week of July, this small Irish town hosted an International Hopkins Festival to celebrate the great Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins.
While living in Dublin, teaching in the newly founded Catholic University in Dublin, Hopkins found a supportive haven in an Irish village, Monasterevin, in the south west of Ireland.
Gerard Manley Hopkins, born in England in 1844, spent five and a half years in Ireland. From 1883, he taught at The Catholic University on St. Stephen's Green, Dublin (now Unversity College , Dublin (UCD) at Belfield). He died at Newman House, on St. Stephen's Green, in 1889. Hopkins's mentor, John Henry Newman was on eof the founders of the new University whose aim was to provide education for Catholics in Ireland. GM Hopkins was Professor of Greek in the Catholic University.
Read Pat Lonergan's Lecture on Death of Hopkins
Gerard Manley Hopkins was buried in the Jesuit Plot in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.
Hopkins Visited Monasterevin 7 times
The poet visited Monasterevin, his rural haven, at least 7 times declaring that he ' felt better for the delicious bog air of Monasterevin '. that Monasterevin was, ' one of the props and struts of my existence .' ' I should have felt better for the delicious bog air of Monasterevin.'
'Our Society provides us means of discouragement, and on me at all events they have had all the effects that could be expected or wished and rather more . . . I am staying (till tomorrow morning, alas) with kind people at a nice place (Monasterevin).
This is the connection between Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins and a small town in south Kildare, Monasterevin. Many of our visitors can quickly understand the charm of this small town for the great poet.
The Hopkins Monument was sculpted by one of Ireland's leading sculptor's, James McKenna, a regular participant in the GM Hokins International Literary Festival. The Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School takes place in Monasterevin each year, during the last week in July since 1987.
The English poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, visited Monasterevin in County Kildare at least 7 times
Gerard Manley Hopkins Visits Monasterevin
The poet visited Monasterevin at least seven times, a guest of a Miss Cassidy who lived in the house opposite the Hopkins Monument. Records show that he visited Monasterevin
- Christmas 1886,
- in 1887
- in January,
- in March,
- in June
- and at Christmas 1887,
- at Christmas 1888,
- and in March 1889.
On the 2nd of January 1887, the poet wrote from Monasterevin to his friend and fellow poet, Robert Bridges :
'I had, in spite of the severe cold, some very pleasant days down at Monasterevin in Co.Kildare at Christmas and again at New Year and it was a happy acquaintance to make, for they made no secret of liking me and want me to go down again.'
Hopkins spent 'some very pleasant days down at Monasterevin'. On 24 January 1887, the poet wrote to his mother on March 29th, 1887: 'I should have felt better for the delicious bog air of Monasterevin'.Hopkins appreciated the waterways of Monasterevin, in particular, ' The River Barrow,'burling Barrow brown'
Among his last sketches, one appers to be the River Barrow with 4 trees in the background. It is signed: Monasterevin, Dec. 29, '88 . The River Barrow featured in his unfinished poem: 'On the Portrait of Two Beautiful Young People '.
'The burling Barrow brown' , refers to the rusty brown colour the river water acquires as it meanders at a leisurely pace through surrounding bogland.
For Hopkins, Monasterevin was , ' one of the props and struts of my existence .'
In his last letter to future Poet Laureate, Robert Bridges, Hopkins wrote in reply to Bridges's asking : "Who is Miss Cassidy?" ....
'She is an elderly lady who by often asking me down to Monasterevin and by the change and holiday, her kind hospitality provides is become one of the props and struts of my existence. '
The Presentation Sisters, who now own the Cassidy house, (Hopkins's 'haven'), continue the Cassidy tradition of hospitality and each year, welcome Hopkins Festival visitors to visit the Hopkins House for a Poetry Reading.
Henry VIII curses Abbey Lands, Confiscated by Henry V111
In a letter, Hopkins fondly recalls St. Evin and the famed Abbey (now Moore Abbey) he founded: 'St. Evin founded the Monastery. Henry VIII confiscated the monastery (as he confiscated all monasteries throughout Ireland). The property passed into the hands of Lord Drogheda* The usual curse on abbey lands attends it and it never passes down in the direct line. The present Lady and Lord Drogheda have no issue. Outside Moore Abbey, which is in a beautiful park, the country is flat, bogs, and river and canals. The river is the Barrow, which the old Irish poet calls the dumb Barrow. I call it the 'Burling Barrow Brown'. Both descriptions are true. The country has nevertheless a charm. The two beautiful young people live within an easy drive.'
Later, Irish tenor, Count John McCormack made his home in the magnificent Moore Abbey. wonderful oak-lined, magnificent Baronial Hall in Moore Abbey. Here, McCormack Steinway is still available to contribute to a magical evening, courtesy of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary.
The Hopkins Festival Moves to Newbridge
On September 1, for a number of pressing reasons, the Gerard Manley Hopkins Committee voted to move the Festival to Newbridge. Monasterevin was left with 'its bog air'; its Hopkins Garden; its Hopkins Monument; a Hopkins Lane and even a Hopkins Pub and the Hopkins Festival looks forward to the future, celebrating poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, Ireland and Kildare. Read full account of the decision to move here.
Read Norman White on Hopkins in County Kildare
The Hopkins Committee Celebrate 21 years with a Reception from the President
The move to Newbridge celebrated with Trip to Dáil
Friends of The Hopkins Society
FAQs on The Hopkins Society
The Hopkins Festival Moves to Newbridge College
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