政府新闻
爱尔兰研讨会在上海庆祝叶芝诞辰160周年 2025-06-17
Sha Hailin, president of Shanghai Public Relations Association, speaks at the Shanghai Public Relations — the 2nd Academic Symposium on Irish Literature on Friday morning.
An academic symposium took place at the Irish Consulate in Shanghai on June 13 in commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the birthday of William Butler Yeats (1865-1939).
A celebrated Irish poet, playwright and essayist, Yeats received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923 for his "always inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation".
The symposium on Irish literature was jointly hosted by the Irish Consulate in Shanghai and the Shanghai Public Relations Association. The event was launched last year with the first edition featuring the Irish novel Ulysses by James Joyce.
Sha Hailin, president of Shanghai Public Relations Association, speaks at the Shanghai Public Relations — the 2nd Academic Symposium on Irish Literature on Friday morning.
Aside from Yeats, Ireland has an additional three authors who won the Nobel Prize for literature: George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, and Seamus Heaney.
"The nationalism and exploration of Irish identity by many Irish writers, none more so than Yeats, is an outward looking nationalism," according to David Murphy, consul general of Ireland in Shanghai. "They seek common understanding and address topics of universal relevance which touches an audience way beyond the shores of Ireland. They were successful not only because of their genius, but also because of how they absorbed ideas from elsewhere, and how they wanted to share their work with the rest of the world."
David Murphy, consul general of Ireland in Shanghai, speaks at the symposium in commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the birthday of William Butler Yeats, one of the most celebrated poets, playwrights and essayists of Ireland.
Literature is the crystallization of a nation's culture and spirit, with every great work embodying the creator's values and the cultural DNA of their people, according to Sha Hailin, president of Shanghai Public Relations Association. "Joyce's Ulysses and Yeat's works have opened windows into Irish literature. Moving forward we hope to use this as an opportunity to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation between our two countries in literature, art and beyond."
"We hope masterpieces of Chinese literature will cross borders and reach audiences in Ireland and beyond," he added.
Source: China Daily
