To start with, a giant creature, called White Lady, spits confetti. The guests love it. Draoicht opens on the brightest day of the year so far. The guests delight in the new centre for the arts in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The President, Mrs McAleese arrives to a fanfare. Guests queuing up to enter the new centre jig along to the beat of the world-music group, Jemanja.
Among those expected to attend the special opening are Ann Malamah-Thomas, director of the British Council; novelist Deirdre Purcell; poet and politician Michael D. Higgins; Ciaran Walsh, general manager of the Druid Theatre Company; Kathy McArdle, artistic director of Project; actor Tom Hickey; Jim Culleton of Fishamble Theatre Company; and playwright Mark O'Rowe.
Exhibitions on the ground and first floors feature a selection of works from the Irish Museum of Modern Art, including work by Robert Ballagh, Louis Le Brocquy, Alice Maher and Janet Mullarney. The space also features an exhibition of photographs by young local people who worked with artist Tony Crosbie, entitled Millennium View . . . Captured in Time.
In a blue polka-dot dress, Teerth Chungh, director of the new centre in west Dublin, tells us it's to become "a home for both the artistic and local communities". The local gospel choir sing their hearts out. As the natural light spills through the building, the sound hits the roof of the huge foyer like nobody's business. Draiocht is trilingual - with signs in Irish, English and Braille. The centre has two auditoriums with seating for 250 in one and 100 in the smaller studio space, two galleries, a fully equipped rehearsal space and an artist's studio. The multipurpose arts facility is complete with lifts, wide doors for easy wheelchair access, all designed by architect David O'Connor. On opening night, the guests roll up, roll up, to Draiocht for a selection of dance, music and performance.
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