James North: AE Russell, the Dublin Theosophists, and the Irish Avatar

James North: "AE Russell, the Dublin Theosophists, and the Irish Avatar"

In the 1880s a group of young Dublin-based writers and spiritual seekers, including W. B. Yeats, AE (George William Russell) and Charles Johnston, were captivated by the Theosophy of H. P. Blavatsky. However they gave a uniquely Irish colouring to Blavatsky's Indian-influenced philosophy. This talk considers the spiritual, political and cultural programme of 1890s Irish Theosophy. It shows how the vision of a spiritual awakening connected with the West of Ireland was of enduring importance to AE, and how several remarkable and forgotten figures in the Dublin circle led by AE took the inspiration of Irish Theosophy from its cradle in Dublin as far as India and the West Coast of America.