Boston College collection of Irish theater publications and ephemera
Dates
- Creation: 1907 - 2022
Scope and Contents
Consists of programs and playbills from performing arts theaters in Ireland, predominantly Dublin, Galway, and Cork. The bulk of programs represent Cork Opera House, Druid Theatre/Mick Lally Theatre, Gaiety Theatre, Gate Theatre, and Olympia Theatre. Many of the shows were produced by Illsley-McCabe Productions. The collection also contains ephemera such as fliers, invitations, posters, and ticket stubs for performances, a prospectus for the sale of the Olympia Theatre (1963), and a copy of Dublin Life, a weekly periodical, with a photograph of Stanley Illsley on the front cover and an article on his new production (1949).
The materials in the collection are programs unless otherwise noted.
Creator
- Cork Opera House (Organization)
- Druid Theatre Company (Organization)
- Gaiety Theatre (Dublin, Ireland) (Organization)
- Dublin Gate Theatre (Organization)
- Olympia Theatre (Organization)
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.
Historical note: Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House was built in the 1850s to designs by architect John Benson. Opened in 1855, the building was originally called The Athenaeum, renamed The Munster Hall in 1875. It was renamed again after extensive reconstruction in 1877 and called the Opera House. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1955 and a replacement officially opened in October 1965 by then President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera. With several of additions in the early twenty-first century, the 1000-seat venue hosted over 100 events of indigenous and international theater, music, opera, and comedy in 2015.
Sources:
"About Us". Cork Opera House, https://www.corkoperahouse.ie/about-us/ (accessed August 22, 2024).
"Opera House". Ask About Ireland, https://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/architecture/architecture-in-cork-city-1/opera-house/ (accessed August 22, 2024).
Historical note: Druid Theatre/Mick Lally Theatre
The Druid Theatre Company, referred to as Druid, is an Irish theater company based in Galway, Ireland. The company was founded in 1975 by Garry Hynes, Marie Mullen, and Mick Lally, who met and worked together as members of University College Galway dramatic society, commonly known as NUIG Dramasoc. It was the first Irish professional theater company to be established outside Dublin. Since 2009, the theater in which the company is based was known as the Mick Lally Theatre but has gone by numerous names through the years. In 1986, the lane on which the Theatre is situated was renamed Druid Lane by the Galway City Council in recognition of the Druid’s twenty-first birthday.
Sources:
"The Druid Story". Druid, https://druid.ie/about-druid/the-druid-story (accessed August 22, 2024).
"The Mick Lally Theatre". Druid, March 28, 2017. http://archive.druid.ie/websites/2009-2017/about/our-theatre (accessed August 22, 2024).
Historical note: Gaiety Theatre
In April 1871, the brothers John and Michael Gunn obtained a twenty-one-year license to establish a new theater. Gaiety Theatre opened on November 27, 1871 in Dublin with the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, John Poyntz Spencer, as the guest of honor. The Gaiety is known for its annual Christmas pantomime and has hosted a pantomime every year since 1874. In 2003, the owners, Denis and Caroline Desmond, invested in a sizable restoration project including the installation of an air conditioning system and new seating. The most substantial restorations were undertaken in 2007, including rebuilding the stage, the orchestra pit, and a new and taller tower. The theater retains several Victorian era features and as of 2024 remains Dublin's longest established, continuously producing theater.
Sources:
"About". Gaiety Theatre, https://www.gaietytheatre.ie/about/ (accessed August 22, 2024).
"Gaiety panto still cream of the crop -- oh yes it is!" Irish Business, 29 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120228202511/http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/gaiety-panto-still-cream-of-the-crop-oh-yes-it-is-2975313.html (accessed August 22, 2024).
Historical note: Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre in Dublin, Ireland was founded in 1928 by Hilton Edwards and his partner Micheál MacLiammóir, known as "The Boys", with Daisy Bannard Cogley and Gearóid Ó Lochlainn. They offered Dublin audiences an introduction to the world of European and American theater, classics and modern, as well as programs from the Irish collection. In 1930, the newly established Gate Theatre ran into financial difficulties and a meeting was called to determine its closure. In a surprise announcement, Lord Longford offered to buy the remaining shares and save the theater. Longford and his wife Lady Christine Longford worked with Edwards and MacLiammóir at the Gate until 1936, when a split occurred and two separate companies were formed. In 2017, Selina Cartmell was appointed Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre. An award-winning director, who had worked extensively in Dublin and the UK, Cartmell’s inaugural season at the theater opened with the immersive production of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
Sources:
"About". Gate Theatre, https://www.gatetheatre.ie/about/ (accessed August 22, 2024).
Hourican, Bridget. "Pakenham, Edward Arthur Henry", October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20210513230201/https://www.dib.ie/index.php/biography/pakenham-edward-arthur-henry-a7164 (accessed August 22, 2024).
Historical note: Olympia Theatre
Dublin's Olympia Theatre was built in 1855 on the site of a former saloon and music hall originally called Connell's Monster Saloon. Original owner Dan Lowrey opened the theater for the first time in December 1879 as Dan Lowrey's Star of Erin Music Hall. Lowrey had been very successful in the United Kingdom, where he ran several venues in the expanding business of music halls. The theater was subsequently rebranded as Dan Lowrey’s Music Hall in 1881, and again as Dan Lowrey’s Palace of Varieties in 1889. It was renamed The Empire Palace in 1897 after undergoing a series of refurbishments. In 1923, the venue had yet another reinvention, this time emerging as the Olympia Theatre, presenting drama, opera, ballet, as well as films, oratorio, and pantomime.
Sources:
"Olympia Theatre, Dublin". Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympia_Theatre,_Dublin (accessed August 22, 2024).
"Venue History". 3Olympia Theatre, https://www.3olympia.ie/about-us/venue-history (accessed August 22, 2024).
Extent
10.5 Linear Feet (8 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Consists of programs and playbills from performing arts theaters in Ireland, predominantly Dublin, Galway, and Cork. The bulk of programs represent Cork Opera House, Druid Theatre/Mick Lally Theatre, Gaiety Theatre, Gate Theatre, and Olympia Theatre. The collection also contains ephemera such as articles, fliers, invitations, posters, and ticket stubs.
Arrangement
Arranged in twenty-four series by theater. Each series is arranged chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Kennys Bookshop & Art Galleries, 2023.
Source
- Kennys Bookshop & Art Galleries (Organization)
- Title
- Boston College Collection of Irish Theater Publications and Ephemera
- Status
- Completed
- Subtitle
- 1907-2022
- Author
- Molly Aleshire
- Date
- 2024
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the John J. Burns Library Repository
John J. Burns Library
Boston College
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill MA 02467 USA
617-552-4861
burns@bc.libanswers.com