The Society which Energizes The Gerard Manley Hopkins FestivalDevelopments Since 1987The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society has gone from strength to strength thanks to the dedication and energy of its Committee and also, thanks to generous sponsorship from the business community, state agencies and others. From Voluntary Committee to Limited CompanyThe Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival 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 facilitate further expansion and development. This step was taken to ensure sustainability and to facilitate further expansion and development. Building Links with Universities WorldwideSince 1987, it has built up strong links with several universities: Creighton University, Omaha, U.S.A., the National University of Ireland at Maynooth, Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and more recently with Regis College, in Denver, Colorado. Since 1997, a field trip during The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival is spent in NUI Maynooth, also situated in Kildare. Kildare 'one of the struts and props of my existence.'During the Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival, Hopkins scholars, enthusiasts and lovers of poetry from all over the world come to re-discover the magic that Hopkins originally found in Kildare, ‘one of the struts and props of my existence'. Participants come to Kildare to rediscover the magic of the English poet, Hopkins's poetry. They also re-discover friendship nd good company. Many come back again and again. Many become life-long friends and supporters of the Gerard Manley Hopkins Society. The Hopkins Festival does does that to people. We appreciate their warmth and their support. Exploration of Gerard Manley Hopkins PoetryAbove all, participants also rediscover the magic of the Victorian Englishman's poetry. Gerard Manley Hopkins poetry is studied, read; and a special innovation of The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival is our Multilingual Translation Workshop. Realising that our Festival attracted Hopkins enthusiasts from all over the world, it seemed reasonable to devote one session to an analysis of a Hopkins poem from a multi-lingual prespective. This module grows in popularity each years. Special gems of insight and understanding are gleaned when the group throw themselves into an in-depth of one short Hopkins poem. What is the secret of the universal appeal of the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins? Join us and help us discover what that secret is! Visitors are also invited to read a Favourite Hopkins Poem. This introduces another aspect of poetry appreciation. The Gerard Manley Hopkins Committee organises cultural events throughout the year including Poetry Readings; an and Concerts. The Society also produces a Newsletter to keep in touch with their friends world-wide. Move to Newbridge September 1, 2009On September 2, 2009, the Committee of The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival voted to move to neighbouring Newbridge from Monasterevin. There were many pressing reasons for this change and now, with a renewed and re-energized Committee, we are all eagerly looking forward to future developments. Watch this space for latest developments and our plans for the future. Recent News:Hopkins Committee Visit the Dail In 2009. the Society were invited to Arus an Uachtaran for a celebration for its 21st Birthday. Why do enthusiasts, fans of the poetry of the English poet Hopkins devote time, energy to run this Hopkins poetry festival?A group of voluntary enthusiasts busily organise the Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival during the last week in July each year. This takes place in Newbridge, Ireland. This Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival has taken place each year since 1987, always guided by a clear consistent vision. Teh focus always is on Victorian poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, his poetry and his interests. This means that we enrich ourselves with his poetry. We also explore all of Hopkins's many interest: literature; visual arts; field trips; and conservation. About The Gerard Manley Hopkins SocietyIn 1987, The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society was founded in 1987 to celebrate and foster the works of Victorian English poet and, in particular, his association with Co.Kildare and Ireland. The poet described Monasterevin, a smal town in County Kildare, as 'one of the struts and props of my existence'. (Visitors to this delightful old town can easily understand why the poet found peace and calm here. The Hopkins Society also celebrate Hopkins's interest in Music, Painting and the Arts and even in Conservation. Each July, with visitors from around the globe, celebrate all the vast array of Hopkins's interests. Why has this voluntary, not for profit Society, succeeded since 1987?Perhaps, it is, in part, becauseof the breadth and depth of interests inspired by Hopkins, that this Summer School has not just survived, but has thrived and expanded since 1987. Thre has always been a strong focus on the range of interests that animated Hopkins. That is more than enough for most of us -- and for our many visitors. The Best Literary Festival in Ireland?Not surprizingly, The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival has been described 'as the best literary festival in Ireland' (Editor, The Oxford Companion to Irish Literature). This is no narrowly focussed Festival. Not only have we a full Programme with Music (Classical and Traditional Irish), Poetry, Visual Art Exhibitions, Lectures, discussions and our uniquely innovative Multilingual Translation Workshop, but we also boasts an enthusiastic Youth Programme. Legal StatusThe 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. Aims of the Irish Gerard Manley Hopkins Society
The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society is a Not for Profit Company, Limited by Guarantee and approved of for Tax Relief under Section 484 of T.C.A. Sponsors and Donors who wish to avail of this Tax Relief should contact the Society for details. Registered Number: 268039 Become a Friend of the Gerard Manley Hopkins Society |
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The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society is a Not for Profit Company Limited by Guarantee and approved of for Tax Relief under Section 484 of T.C.A. Sponsors and Donors who wish to avail of Tax Relief should contact the Society for details.