An Taibhdhearc is the national

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. It was founded in 1928. The word ''taibhdhearc'' means "ghostly vision", from, "taibhse" meaning ghost, and "dearcadh" meaning "view". An Taibhdhearc is situated at 19 Middle Street, within the

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

city of

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

. It is built on the ruins of the city's original Augustinian friary. The rear wall incorporates a wall from this

friary A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which may ...

, including some carved stone window frames. The theatre is used for drama and music productions, and occasionally screens international films. The busiest period for the arts in Galway city each year is the two weeks of the annual

Galway International Arts Festival The Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF), founded in 1978, is a cultural organisation that produces an annual arts festival in Galway, Ireland. It also produces new work that tours nationally and internationally, in addition to presenting ...

Beginnings

The theatre opened on 27 August 1928, staging

Micheál Mac Liammóir Micheál Mac Liammóir (born Alfred Lee Willmore; 25 October 1899 – 6 March 1978) was an actor, designer, dramatist, writer, and impresario in 20th-century Ireland. Though born in London to an English family with no Irish connections, he emig ...

's '' Diarmuid agus Gráinne'', with Earnán de Blaghd,

Pádraic Ó Conaire Pádraic Ó Conaire (28 February 1882 – 6 October 1928) was an Irish writer and journalist whose production was primarily in the Irish language. In his lifetime he wrote 26 books, 473 stories, 237 essays and 6 plays. His acclaimed novel ' ...

, and

Lady Gregory Isabella Augusta, Lady Gregory (; 15 March 1852 – 22 May 1932) was an Anglo-Irish dramatist, folklorist and theatre manager. With William Butler Yeats and Edward Martyn, she co-founded the Irish Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre, and wrot ...

in attendance. A grant of IRE£600, was used to make it happen.

Hiatus

After suffering extensive smoke damage during a fire in 2007, An Taibhdhearc closed its doors for an extended period of renovation and refurbishment. While the theatre was closed, An Taibhdhearc continued to produce shows in other venues around Galway city and county. The theatre was re-opened by President of Ireland,

Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins (; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster, and sociologist who has been serving as the president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator ...

in September 2012.

Modern activities

The theatre continues to stage drama premieres. The theatre has hosted poetry and music performances, as well as film screenings. The theatre hosts events as part of the

Cúirt International Festival of Literature The Cúirt International Festival of Literature is an annual literary festival held since 1985 in Galway in Ireland. The Irish language word ''cúirt'' (pronounced ) means "court". The festival consists of a variety of events taking place over t ...

. In 2024, the theatre was award a €6m grant to support the Irish language productions, and a public call was made for new board members.

References

External links

Official Website
{{Coord, 53.27198, -9.05255, display=title Buildings and structures in Galway (city) Culture in Galway (city) Irish language Theatres in the Republic of Ireland Tourist attractions in Galway (city) National theatres Minority-language theatre

Beginnings

Hiatus

Modern activities

See also

References

External links