Green light for major arts projects

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday approved a series of high-profile arts projects including the relocation of the Abbey Theatre, the development of a bigger National Concert Hall, the remodelling of the Theatre Royal in Wexford and the refurbishment of Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre for opera performances.

The Abbey will stay north of Dublin’s river Liffey on a site at George’s Dock, near the IFSC, provided free of charge by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

An international design competition will be held for a site plan that will be developed by public-private partnership.

The National Concert Hall will develop three performance halls on its current site at an estimated cost of €140 million, by 2010 or 2012.

About €26 million will be spent, between 2006 and 2010, on a remodelling of the Theatre Royal in Wexford, the main venue for the Wexford Opera Festival.

The €4m refurbishment of the Gaiety Theatre will expand its potential for staging opera in the capital city.

“Government approval of this package of investments makes a very clear statement of our determination to address key deficiencies in our national cultural infrastructure,” said Mr O’Donoghue.