Arts hailed as the elixir of Irish energy

The arts touch too many lives for business not to be involved. They are the DNA of the future, said Mr Pádraig McManus, chief executive of the ESB, speaking at The Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Awards for 2003. He was quoting Colin Tweedy, of Arts and Business magazine in Britain.

Mr McManus expressed his delight at hosting the event and assured guests that he and ESB chairman Mr Tadhg O'Donoghue, also present, looked forward to it "very much each year."

Mr McManus said: "In sport international players receive widespread recognition; hurling and Gaelic football have 'The All Stars'. We like to think that The Irish Times/ESB Irish Theatre Awards are the theatrical - and now operatic - equivalent; an appropriate recognition of what is a fundamental of Irish cultural life."

A Bord Fáilte survey had revealed that, even more than our landscapes, seascapes and hospitality, what attracted tourists to this country was our cultural heritage, particularly our reputation as a country of prolific writers, he said.

Referring to centenary celebrations at the National Theatre this year, Mr McManus said that "without the Abbey, through bad times and good, it is fair to say that we would not have produced the writers, actors, directors and designers who have profiled our people as a theatrical nation". The word "Abbey" was one of the brand images of Ireland abroad. "A brand of which we are immensely proud," he added.

There were other birthdays to celebrate this year too, Mr McManus noted.

"The Gate just passed its 75th while Druid, the obvious inspiration for many companies now dotted around the provinces, is almost 30 years old and Rough Magic has been keeping the independent flag flying in Dublin for 20 years."

Mr Gerry Smyth, managing editor at The Irish Times, said the awards were designed "to pay recognition to that collaborative spirit which is to be found in theatre".

He recalled a description of the National Theatre as expressed by a minister of the first Fianna Fáil government in 1933. "Filthy language, drunkenness, murder and prostitution," was the minister's description of a night at the Abbey.

Taoiseach Éamon de Valera instructed that a letter be written to inform the Abbey that their subsidy might be conditional on a change "to that repertoire of vices", he continued. However, chief founder W.B. Yeats "responded in terms that we can only admire: 'The directors empower me to say on their behalf, and on my own, that we refuse further financial assistance from the government'."

Mr Smyth extended congratulations and best wishes to the Abbey on its centenary and, as a newspaperman, thanked it "for all the good copy and news stories along the away. And I expect there will be more."

He thanked the judges, as did Mr McManus, "for their extraordinary dedication over the 12-month judging period" and also thanked RTÉ, particularly producer David McKenna, for its coverage of the event.

The chairwoman of the judging panel, Ms Maureen Kennelly, said that for herself and colleagues, Ms Helen Meany and Mr Phelim Donlon, it had been "an absolute privilege" to take on the role. They had seen 130 productions in 2003 and noted "a dearth of new productions outside Dublin and also of touring productions".

It was disappointing so many shows were concentrated in the capital, she said, and asked whether it would "be such a remarkable thing in 2004 for the national theatre and the theatre of the nation to imagine a life beyond the reach of the Luas". There was also "an urgent and particular need for new writing and imaginative direction".