McAleese pays tribute to Abbey

This year marks a new beginning for Dublin’s world-renowned Abbey Theatre, President Mary McAleese claimed tonight.

Mrs McAleese told a centenary celebration of the national theatre at Áras an Uachtaráin that its proud legacy must be built on.

“2004 represents a new beginning for the Abbey, a past to be proud of, to learn from and to build on, a legacy that must be a garden and not a mausoleum,” she said.

The President said the Abbey Theatre had played an important role in Irish society since its establishment 100 years ago.

“Much of the success of the Abbey as a National Theatre is demonstrated by the relationship it has with its public,” he said.

“The Abbey evokes emotions and opinions from its audiences, fans, critics and even the non-theatre going public in a way that other theatres and institutions can only envy.

“It has been both an important source of commentary on changing times and a shaper of the events of the day.”

Mrs McAleese said the Abbey had played a remarkable role as a working writers’ theatre, premiering no fewer than 725 new works since its foundation.

“On this birthday we first look back down the sweep of a century with gratitude and respect, stirring up old memories, calling to mind events and people that have entered legend and those almost forgotten,” she said.

“We also look to the next one hundred years, starting as they do in this well-educated, increasingly sophisticated and confident Ireland where the challenges facing the Abbey are formidable, perhaps even more formidable than those in previous generations.”

Mrs McAleese paid tribute to the board, staff and artists of the Abbey Theatre for marking 2004 with a groundbreaking programme.

“As custodians of our national theatre you bear huge responsibilities and face your own audiences in the form of public opinion. You have to make great theatre and you also have to make it pay,” she said.