Elizabeth and Lily Yeats

The Remarkable Women in the Shadow of W.B. Yeats

It may be a surprise to many that the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats and his painter brother, Jack, had two remarkable sisters who were scorned and disparaged for their independent feminist, artistic lifestyle. In fact, James Joyce called them “weird” in chapter one of Ulysses.

Elizabeth and Lily Yeats founded Cuala Press, an arts and craft business and ran it from 1908 to 1940. According to modern historians researching their lives, they lived in the shadow of their brothers, before fading into obscurity. This episode will be written by Roisin Kearney, an accomplished Irish screenwriter and co-produced by Dublin-based Document Films, headed by Caroline Grace-Cassidy. Our London-based associate producer, Daisy Shepherd-Cross will be working on this episode with the Irish creative team.

RW Stories in Development

  • Roisin Kearney

    WRITER AND DIRECTOR

    Academy long-listed The Ferry (co-producer) RUN (writer/director) both premiered at Galway Film Fleadh ’19. PADDY (Director) premiered at Galway Film Fleadh ’20. Associate producer on format children’s show Gamer Mode for Roundstone Media and RTE2 2021, and writer for Smashing Times theatre and film company 2021. Most recently Roisin was director on Keep It Up 6 x1/2 TV hybrid documentary for RTE and Macalla Teo.
    Director on Ode To A Coolock Queen for Smashing Times theatre and film company. She is in development on a number of projects with both Irish and European producers and has been supported by Screen Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland.
    Kearney’s awards and nominations include; Best Comedy nominee, EdFest New Voice Award. Best Film Dublin International Short Film and Music festival, Best Script – Waterford International Film Festival.