"Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth, We are happy when we are growing." —William Butler Yeats (W.B. Yeats)

It's W.B. Yeats' 150th birthday. Come to his party. Like many people in this world, you often quote the immortal poet,  despite the fact that he was born in 1865 and made the transition back to the cosmos in 1939.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 12th from 1–4:30pm. The musical and storytelling event will also include a delicious buffet Lunch ( 1:00 - 2:00pm) with performances beginning at 2:00 - 3:30pm followed by Cocktails from 3:30 - 4:30pm.

The gala event is also part of ‘Yeats 2015’—which will be a year of festivities that is being organized in Ireland and around the world.

W.B. Yeats has the luck of the Irish. He is immortal. His words ring true then, now and I suspect, they always will.

The pride of the Irish should be “up" when talking about the work of Yeats. His life was remarkable and he was more than a poet. He was also a scholar, statesman, and Nobel Prize winner; exploring his conflicted attachment to County Sligo, a striking landscape rich in history, folklore, and Irish mythology that he described as the “Land of Heart’s Desire.”

Yeats advised (to), “tread softly, because you tread on my dreams,” and to that end his homeland of Ireland is celebrating the poet’s 150th birthday with an afternoon of storytelling and song. 

Oh Yeats’ what would he say about this event honoring his body of work, I think he would add:  "I think Hope and Memory have one daughter and her name is Art, and she has built her dwelling far from the desperate field where men hang out their garments upon forked boughs to be banners of battle.” 

An event raffle will support Concern Worldwide, a non-governmental humanitarian organization founded in Ireland and now operating globally to eradicate extreme poverty.  Ireland is called the 'Emerald Isle’ and is so green, the astronauts made notice of the lushness high above the skies canopy.

To explore the richness and legacy that is Ireland is at the core of Yeats’ Heart’s Desire. Innovation being on the top of the list, the buzz surrounding the new app Cultural Roadmapp: Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way fits neatly into the program.

Cultural Roadmapp: Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is the first hands-free cultural travel app for motorists on Ireland’s spectacular 1500-mile driving route.

The downloadable GPS-enabled app will comprise four audio tours drawing on the music, folklore, poetry, and history of Ireland’s culture-laden west coast. Proceeds from ticket sales and contributions will support development of the pilot audio tour in the series. 

It’s only $35.00 for an afternoon of great food and performance which includes internationally acclaimed flutist from leading Irish band Lúnasa, Vocalist-Lyricist Alisa Rose---who will compose a song just for the occasion---Kevin Crawford, Dr. James Pethica, Williams College Senior Lecturer in English and Theater, Actor Neil Bradley, known for his work portraying Yeats, Dr. Luke Gibbons, Visiting Professor of English, New York University, Deputy Editor of Irish America Magazine, Adam Farley and Popular Sligo-style fiddler Tony DeMarco.

Tickets: $35. Buy tickets online at http://www.culturalroadmapp.com. 

Where? At the Irish Arts Center—located at 553 W. 51st St. (at 11th Ave.) If you are driving, no issue. There is a convenient garage at  W. 51st St. (10th–11thAves.), outdoor lot on W. 51st St. (11th–12th Aves.). True blue New Yorker, take the (SUBWAY) A, C to W. 50th St.; R to W. 49th St. 

The Irish Arts Center is generously providing the venue but is not affiliated with cultural roadmap.

There are a few, interesting things about the new GPS technology, Cultural Roadmapp that make it rather unique. Although multimedia travel apps have been available for a number of years, and audio tours for museums and walks are now commonplace, not until very recently—and only in a handful of cases—have audio tours been developed for motorists, and with mixed success.

But now, with the recent advent of “geo-fencing” GPS technology, Cultural Roadmapp will be 100% hands free, allowing drivers and passengers to keep their eyes on the scenery (and road), and not on their smart phones. With cultural tourists as the fast-growing demographic in tourism and the early success of the Wild Atlantic Way (which opened to much fanfare in early 2014), this app should have major market share. 

A video featuring The Chieftains’ Matt Molloy is available at http://www.culturalroadmapp.com.

Take a moment to roam around the website, click the image below.