The Irish Hopkins Society

a voluntary, community-based cultural tourism development, have run an International Summer School with music, poetry and more since 1987 in honour of English poet.

Background information on this Irish Hopkins Society

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 International Summer School during the last week in July each year. This takes place in Monasterevin, Ireland.

This Hopkins Summer School has taken place each year since 1987.


About The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society

In 1987, The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society was founded in Monasterevin
to celebrate and foster the works of Victorian English poet and, in particular,
his association with Monasterevin, Co.Kildare and Ireland. The poet described Monasterevin as 'one of the struts and props of my existence'. (Visitors to this delightful old town cannot find it difficult to 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.

The Best Literary Festival in Ireland?

Not surprizingly, The Hopkins International Summer School has been described 'as the best literary festival in Ireland' (Editor, The Oxford Companion to
Irish Literature).

The Society's major undertaking each year is the Gerard Manley Hopkins International Summer School, a poetry 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 contact
the Society for details. Reg. No:268039. Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Ireland.
Webmaster)

Aims of the Irish Gerard Manley Hopkins Society

	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 : Creighton University, Omaha, U.S.A., the National
University of Ireland at Maynooth, Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

NUI Maynooth and The Hopkins Society

Since 1997, the Sunday of the International Festival is spent in NUI Maynooth,
also situated in Kildare.

Hopkins Summer School - each year, last week of July

Each year, Hopkins scholars, enthusiasts and lovers of poetry (and people who quite simply like the buzz!) assemble from all over the world to re-discover the magic that Hopkins originally found in Monasterevin, a quiet, Victorian village 40 miles south-west of Dublin.

Participants also rediscover the magic of the English poet, Hopkins's
poetry.

They also claim to re-discover friendship nd good company. Many come backagain and again. Many become life-long friends of the Society. Monasterevin does that to people.

Hopkins Society and Culture throughout the year

The Hopkins Society also organises cultural events throughout the
year: Poetry Readings; an Annual Hopkins Lecture and Concerts.
The Society also produces an Annual Newsletter to keep in touch with
their friends world-wide.

(This short history of The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society is based on a history written by Elaine Murphy, The The Gerard Manley Hopkins Society.)

The Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School