The Director of the Yeats Society has said there is "no certainty" that a quote to be used on this year's Dublin Marathon medals, which are to pay tribute to Nobel Laureate William Butler Yeats, was ever actually said by him.
Earlier today, race organisers said that this year's medal will pay tribute to Yeats on the 100th Anniversary of his Nobel Prize for Literature.
Each finisher will receive a medal with an image of the poet along with the engraved quote: "There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't met yet".
The organisers said the quote was from the poet and embodies "the values of the Dublin Marathon", adding that the race is known worldwide as "the friendly marathon".
However, Director of the Yeats Society Susan O’Keefe has said there while the words are often attributed to the poet, no hard evidence exists to suggest they were his.
"There are many great Yeats quotes, and I’m sure the organisers will consider the pros and cons of keeping the race medals as they are," she said.
Ms O’Keefe also said it was a "lovely touch" on the part of the marathon to remember the centenary.
In a statement, organisers said they are "aware of the concerns of the WB Yeats Society on the use of the quote on the medal which is widely attributed to Yeats".
They have said they will "reach out to them directly on this matter".
Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923, and considered the prize as less for himself than his country, calling it Europe's welcome to the Free State.
The 2023 race - to be held on 29 October - is due to have reduced entries when compared to last year.
First held in 1980, the Dublin Marathon will have a capacity of 22,500 entries, down from 25,000 in 2022.
A new category has been introduced for the race to allow athletes to enter as nonbinary.
