Beltaine, The Organ of The Irish Literary Theatre

Edited by W. B. Yeats

Beltaine, The Organ of The Irish Literary Theatre

Number One, London

At the Sign of the Unicorn

May 1899

Contributions by W. B. Yeats, Lionel Johnson, George Moore, and C. H. Herford

Started by W. B. Yeats to promote the work of the newly established Irish Literary Theatre (later to become the Abbey Theatre), Beltaine was an occasional publication that had put out three issues through spring 1900. One of four ancient seasonal Irish festivals, “Beltaine” is the ancient Irish May Day, marking the beginning of summer and the driving of cattle to their summer fields, with great bonfires being lit to guard against evil.