Abbey Theatre

Lobbying Organisation Abbey Theatre

Date published 21 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Arts

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details Communications between representatives of the Abbey Theatre and Government

Intended results To update Government officials on plans for the Abbey Theatre including the Business Case for the redevelopment project. To promote awareness of the need for continued support of the redevelopment.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Abbey Theatre Board Directors: John Cronin (Chair) and Múirne Laffan, Abbey Theatre CoDirectors: Mark O'Brien (Executive Director) and Caitriona McLaughlin (Artistic Director)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

A letter of welcome to Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for the Arts, highlighting ongoing work in relation to the Abbey Theatre redevelopment project.

Letter (1)

A letter to Feargal Ó Coigligh, Secretary General of the Department of Arts, to update him on matters relating to the Abbey Theatre including the progress of the Business Case for the redevelopment.

Informal communication (1)

An informal in-person conversation with Hildegarde Naughton, Minister for Disability, in relation to accessibility challenges at the Abbey Theatre on the occasion of a performance of an Abbey Theatre production in Berlin.

Informal communication (1)

An invitation issued to Taoiseach Micháel Martin to visit the Abbey Theatre during an informal in-person conversation at a Shared Island Forum event.

Meeting (1)

A tour of the Abbey Theatre and discussion on the progress of the redevelopment with Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, following issue of an invitation.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Micheál Martin Tánaiste and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Hildegarde Naughton Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

Jack Chambers Minister (Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform)

Patrick O'Donovan Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Feargal Ó Coigligh Secretary General (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)