Ex-Senator and only son of WB Yeats dies

MICHAEL YEATS, son of WB Yeats, died yesterday.

The former Fianna Fáil Senator was 86 years old.

Mr Yeats was the only son of the poet, and the subject of the famous work A Prayer For My Son.

He served both as a Senator and as Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, and was also one of Ireland’s first members of the European Parliament.

He wrote about his political career in the book Cast a Cold Eye.

He served in the European Parliament as a Fianna Fáil MEP between 1973 and 1979. He was the first Irish vice-president of the European Parliament and he also served as leader of the Fianna Fáil group in the parliament between 1977 and 1979.

Last night, MEP Brian Crowley, leader of the Fianna Fáil group, said Mr Yeats was a great supporter of Ireland playing a central role within the European Union, and of increased powers for the parliament.

Mr Yeats had through the years been involved in a number of events and exhibitions centring on his father, and recently donated significant items from the Yeats archive to be placed on display in Dublin.