Concert Hall says new plan could earn State €50m

The National Concert Hall (NCH) has announced proposals for a development it says could bring €50 million in tourism revenue to the Irish economy.

The centrepiece of the plan - which is at the proposal stage - would be a 2,000-seater auditorium in Dublin. The NCH also plans an upgrade of the existing 900-capacity hall on Earlsfort Terrace and build a third hall with 400 seats.

It is understood the development would cost some €100 million.

The new facilities will be built on space made available by the relocation of University College Dublin's medicine and engineering faculties to Belfield.

NCH chairman Dr Dermot Egan said the plans "would provide Ireland with the opportunity to better attract and accommodate major domestic and international performances and events".

"We hope this opportunity will be grasped by the Government," Dr Egan said. "Otherwise, there is a real risk that Ireland's National Concert Hall will be left behind in the perception of audiences at home and performers and promoters abroad."

The NCH, which received Government grants of €1.6 million from the Exchequer last year, had an attendance of more than 280,000 at 396 events in 2004. It says it generates around €25 million for the local economy per annum.

In its annual financial statement released today, the NCH reported profits of €17,497 for last year. Average attendance levels for events in the auditorium in 2004 was 74 per cent. The NCH has enjoyed attendance levels of up to 83 per cent for the first four months of 2005.

Box office turnover for 2004 was almost €5 million, with €1 million of the total coming from advance sales and €0.5 million from online bookings.