Fine Gael pushes for Abbey Theatre move

Fine Gael is to press for Dublin’s most famous theatre, the Abbey, to move into the city’s best-known thoroughfare, O’Connell Street.

The party has tabled a Dail question to Public Works Office minister Tom Parlon on the issue, suggesting the historic theatre should be transferred from its traditional base – in Abbey Street – around the corner to the controversial site of the former Carlton Cinema.

Fine Gael frontbencher Richard Bruton wants government ministers to urgently assess the suitability of switching the Abbey as part of the renewal plans for O’Connell Street, which last week finally saw the erection of the 120-metre Millennium Spire.

He maintained: “This would be a unique opportunity to make the Abbey a centrepiece of a vibrant redevelopment of this area.

“The location of the Abbey on O’Connell Street would significantly enhance the renewal programme. It would form a cultural centre with the Ambassador Theatre and the Gate Theatre close by.”

Mr Bruton said the Office of Public Works had been working with the Abbey Theatre’s board of directors to develop a profile of their long-term needs.

He added: “The minister should urgently examine the potential fit of these needs with the facilities at the Carlton. Quick decisions are vital in this case.

“This site has been blighted by lengthy delays in identifying viable projects that can quickly be brought to fruition.

“One thing that the minister should not do is signal general interest in the site without a specific critical path plan to bring his concept to reality.”

The future location of the Abbey Theatre – founded by Irish literary icons W B Yeats, Lady Gregory and J M Synge in 1904 – has been in the air for some years.

It was the first state-funded theatre in the English-speaking world and has the remit of producing and developing new Irish writing for the theatre.

Ahead of the institution’s centenary, there has been speculation that it could shift from Abbey Street to a dedicated site in Dublin’s docklands.

Last year Mr Ahern went on record to express his “surprise” at the prospect of the Abbey going into the docklands as the suggested location is on the southern side of the River Liffey – and outside the Taoiseach’s constituency.

Other options have included redeveloping the present theatre following the possible purchase of adjoining properties and two other sites in the locality, which is the Dail constituency of the Taoiseach, who has taken a keen interest in the on-going debate.

A move to the old Carlton cinema site has been considered before, though until now rejected.