Abbey Theatre

Lobbying Organisation Abbey Theatre

Date published 21 Sep, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Arts

Period 1 May, 2025 to 31 Aug, 2025

Specific Details Communications between representatives of the Abbey Theatre and Government

Intended results To update Government officials on plans for the Abbey Theatre. To promote awareness of the need for continued support of the Abbey Theatre Redevelopment Project. To explore and secure opportunities for promotion of the National Theatre of Ireland.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity John Cronin (Chair), Mark O'Brien (Co-Director/Executive Director), Caitriona McLaughlin (Co-Director/Artistic Director), Mairead Dempsey (Archivist), and Ruth McGowan (Literary & New Work 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.

Meeting (1)

A tour of the Abbey Theatre and discussion on the progress of the redevelopment on 2 May with James Geoghegan TD, following issue of an invitation.

Meeting (2-5)

Meeting and discussion on the redevelopment project with: - Conor Sreenan, OPW State & Principal Architect, - Charlie McConalogue, Minister, Dept. of Culture, - Karl Mitchell, Area Management Central & South East, Dublin City Council on 13 August - Patrick O'Donovan, Minister, Dept. of Culture on 2 Sept. - John Callinan, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach on 4 Sept.

Informal communication (2-5)

Informal in-person conversations in relation to progress of the Abbey Theatre redevelopment project with: - Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health, during an event at the residence of the British Ambassador, - Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Culture, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Informal communication (1)

Informal in-person conversation in relation to opportunities for promotion of the Abbey Theatre in Canada with John Concannon, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada, during the Galway Arts Festival.

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.

James Geoghegan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Conor Sreenan Commissioner (The Office of Public Works)

Charlie McConalogue Minister of State (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

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

John Callinan Secretary General (Department of the Taoiseach)

Karl Mitchell Executive Manager (Dublin City Council)

John Concannon Ambassador (Department of Foreign Affairs)