Exhibition to recognise works of writer WM Letts at Round Tower

Over 30 people were present to support the opening of a new exhibition to recognise the works of W.M. Letts at the Round Tower Visitor Centre, reports Steven Reid.

The exhibition will be on display until June 29 and was: “Intended to offer something new for local people in particular, who will likely have seen the permanent exhibition already,” according to a spokesperson.

Numerous temporary exhibitions are planned for the Visitor Centre, with SDCC, the Clann Chrónáin Volunteer Tour Guides, and the Clondalkin Round Tower Heritage Group working together to realise this vision over the next year.

Síle Coleman, SDCC Libraries, with Mervyn Ennis, one of the principal organisers of the commemorative plaque to Letts which was unveiled in Rathcoole Cemetery last year

A prominent expert on Letts, Dubliner Bairbre O’Hogan, led a talk to commemorate the opening of the exhibition which was well received by those in attendance.

W.M. Letts was originally known for her work during the First World War in which she demonstrated a rare and earnest compassion towards those who were heavily impacted by the conflict, but: “She is perhaps better known in Ireland for her poems set in Dublin, Wicklow or Wexford and also her retelling of stories about Irish saints and scholars,” the spokesperson noted.

Letts was a trailblazer in her time. One of the only females to write multiple plays for notable theatres like the Abbey, she consistently demonstrated: “Compassion, wit, and kindness” in her works on young people, and even had many of her children’s books shared over the radio.

Bernardine Nic Giolla Phádraig, Josephine Byrne, Ashling Brady and Marnie Caddle planning the exhibition launch

She resided predominantly in Blackrock, Co Dublin and was: “A regular visitor to Corkagh house in Clondalkin.”

The Rathcoole cemetery is home to her remains, where a plaque was recently bestowed in her honour just last year.

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