Fiach Mac Conghail has produced a range of work in theatre, cinema and the visual arts, writes Deirdre Falvey, Arts Editor
Fiach Mac Conghail, director- designate of the Abbey Theatre, has been described as a Jack of all trades.
The 40-year-old is not an actor, director or designer, nor has he any desire to be, but has produced a range of work in theatre, cinema and visual arts, since 1989. His gift is for bringing creators and artists together, and shepherding a project to fruition.
The Abbey must be hoping that his blend of artistic knowledge and ability, management experience, personable charm and, not least, collaborative way of working, is just what it needs to move forward at a challenging time and a turning point in the life of the National Theatre.
He is a man with his fingers in many pies and with a strong track record. He has been stage manager and administrator at the Gaiety; artistic director of the Project Arts Centre in Dublin (1992-99); Ireland's cultural director at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany, and he has managed the redevelopment of the Irish College in Paris as a cultural centre.
He was awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship in 2003 and was commissioner of the cultural programme for Ireland's EU presidency last year.
As a film producer he has made three short films for Paul Mercier; other production projects include Marina Carr's Ariel at the Abbey; a play about Malcolm Macarthur, The Book of Evidence, with Kilkenny Arts Festival, and the visual arts projects Medusae by Dorothy and Tom Cross and The Silver Bridge by Jaki Irvine.
On Monday he starts shooting a film version of Paul Mercier's Studs (written and directed by Mercier, starring Brendan Gleeson, to be released later this year), and he will continue until the end of April to work as a part-time adviser to the Minister for the Arts, Mr O'Donoghue.
He has done this two days a week since September 2002.
The son of Muiris Mac Conghail, former RTÉ controller of programmes, he is a native Irish speaker, was born and bred in Dublin, educated in Scoil Lorcáin and Coláiste Eoin and graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1988.
He is married to actress Bríd Ní Neachtain and they have two daughters
Fiach Mac Conghail's skills are both artistic and personal. He is very political, in all senses, has a sure hand, a massive range of contacts and people he has worked with and is well liked and respected.
He yesterday described the job of Abbey director as something he has coveted for years. "When I worked there in 1989 [ as then artistic director Noel Pearson's personal assistant] I aspired to come back, there's no shame in admitting it. Being director of the Abbey allows you to set the agenda, to create new contexts and ways of working."
Mac Conghail says he is well aware of the challenges facing him and is going in "with my eyes wide open".
He went for the job of artistic director when it last came up and was disappointed, but he commented yesterday that "in hindsight, the things I achieved in the five years have added to my strengths as a director. I have more skills now."
His period as adviser on arts has certainly added to those political skills, working in the Department with a Minister new to the portfolio through a period of change - the appointment of the new Arts Council and director, a new Arts Bill, a new policy for traditional arts, a recovery period and budget increases following savage cuts.
Coming in the midst of such a critical period, all eyes will be on him.