Docklands site for new Abbey Theatre

The new Abbey Theatre will be built in Dublin’s docklands as part of a revamp of several of the country’s leading cultural institutions, the Government confirmed today.

Under the Budget, the Dublin-based National Concert Hall will be given a face-life as it heads into its 25th anniversary next year, while the century old national theatre will be relocated to a site at Georges Dock.

Dr Dermot Egan, chairman of the National Concert Hall, said: “A redeveloped National Concert Hall will be a landmark cultural facility for the country and a work of major cultural renewal.”

Arts Minister John O’Donoghue confirmed the Finance Minister had set aside funds in the 2006-2010 capital investments for the developments to get underway next year.

“The National Concert Hall within its very limited space at Earlsfort Terrace is highly energetic and operates with a strong market focus,” he said.

“The new facility which will comprise three separate but interlinked performance halls, including a 2,000-seat auditorium, will enable the National Concert Hall to provide for public demand including the staging of key performances by top-class world artistes at a reasonable ticket price.”

Mr O’Donoghue said the Office of Public Works had investigated and approved the site provided by Dublin Docklands Development Authority at Georges Dock for the theatre.

The minister said he was working to arrange the options for procuring the building of the theatre as a private public partnership project, including a separate international design competition.

Chairwoman of the Abbey Theatre, Eithne Healy, said they welcomed the decision on the theatre’s new location.

Under the capital investment programme, around 26m euro has been set aside towards the estimated 30m euro cost of refurbishing and remodelling the Theatre Royal in Wexford – the home of the Wexford Festival Opera. The remaining costs of the theatre development would be met by sponsors and private donations.

Olive Braiden, chairwoman of the Arts Council said: “For more than half a century, this Festival has carved out a secure niche on the international arts scene. The late Jerome Hynes, the Festival’s Chief Executive and Deputy Chair of the Arts Council had ambitious plans for Wexford.”

Around 4m euro will be put aside towards the cost of refurbishing the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

“The Gaiety is one of the very few facilities in Dublin capable of staging large-scale Opera productions. This refurbishment will enable the Gaiety to fulfil this key role into the future,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

The Irish Sports Council also welcomed Mr O’Donoghue’s announcement that the first phase of the Abbotstown Sports Complex has been approved.

The phase of the Sports Campus will see the development of facilities and training areas for both professional rugby and soccer games and amateur field games including Gaelic football, hurling and hockey.

The 2006-2010 capital envelope for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism also sets aside 20m euro next year for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road.

Ossie Kilkenny, chairman of the Irish Sports Council: “Irish sports organisations and the population of west Dublin will be the main beneficiaries. The complex will also be hugely attractive to Irish and international sports squads preparing for the 2012 London Olympic Games.”