Coole Park is fittingly the new home of a rare, century-old, signed WB Yeats book – a family heirloom that left Ireland with the great-grandfather of its current owner and returned to the place that inspired so much of the poet’s greatest work.

The presentation of the book took place as the old apple store at Coole Park was officially unveiled after its renovation into a new bat roost opened at heritage event in Coole Park.

During the event, Cicely Muldoon – former Superintendent at Yosemite National Park in California – gifted the rare, signed book by W.B Yeats “Autobiographies: Reveries Over Childhood and Youth and The Trembling of the Veil”, originally published in 1927.

The book is a family heirloom and originally belonged to her great grandfather who emigrated to the USA from Limerick.

“National Parks in Ireland and the USA have a shared vision to protect our natural heritage,” said Cicely.

“This is reflected through activities such as twinning arrangements which bring staff in National Parks together to learn and share knowledge.

“This book symbolises our deep, historical ties and has been part of my family for many generations. I’m delighted that it will return here to be in this wonderful setting within the magic of Coole Park which has inspired so many visitors, artists and writers,” she added.

Local Minister Seán Canney was at Coole Park Nature Reserve to accept the rare, limited-edition book which will be retained as part of a collection at Coole Park – and he also opened the new, purpose-built bat roost.

“Coole Park is a world-class site for visitors, cultural heritage and nature conservation. It is a stronghold for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, a very rare species which will now have shelter within this beautiful building that bears record of the cultural significance of Coole Park, and its artistic heritage,” he said.

“I’m also delighted to celebrate our strong connections to our diaspora in California, which has resulted in this wonderful, signed book by WB Yeats being gifted to the State today,” he added.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has managed Coole Park Nature Reserve for nature and as a public amenity since 1987. Coole Park is, of course, a former residence of the Gregory Family and Lady Augusta Gregory.

Minister Canney also paid tribute to the NPWS, and to community groups, local authorities ‘and everyone who is working to secure the legacy of Lady Gregory and WB Yeats here at Coole and in the wider area’.

The new bat roost involved the renovation of an old apple store on the grounds of Coole Park, and was purpose built to protect the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, a species unique to Ireland’s western seaboard.

The renovation allowed for original features of the house to be retained, including its unique stonework and its beautiful limestone slab floor.

William Cormacan, Divisional Manager with NPWS, described Coole Park as ‘one of those sites that can be truly celebrated internationally’.

“This is a day that both our natural and cultural heritage comes together, re-enforcing the importance of Coole as both a site for nature conservation and one at the heart of the Irish Literary Revival,” he said.

“The NPWS, who are the custodians of Coole are committed in working with our partners and the local community, to secure and enhance this wonderful site for future generations, and to develop it as a world class site for nature conservation and culture,” he added.

Pictured: Minister Seán Canney and Cllr David Collins Cathaoirleach Galway County Council making a presentation to Cicely Muldoon, Superintendent at Yosemite National Park USA, and Mary Martin, Superintendent at Lasson Volcanic National Park, USA at an NPWS Heritage Event at Coole Park Nature Reserve.