BY DONAL FALLON
FOCUS THEATRE REMEMBERED
In one of his final acts as president, Michael D. Higgins (together with his wife Sabina) unveiled a plaque to honour the Focus Theatre in Pembroke Place, Dublin. The theatre was the true inheritor of the spirit of the earlier Pike Theatre (and only slightly larger) and would bring work by talent as diverse as Beckett, Ibsen and Sartre to Irish audiences. Its guiding light was Deirdre O’Connell, born in New York’s South Bronx in 1939, who established a Stanislavski school of acting. Actors like Tom Hickey and Sabina Coyne (now Higgins) would arrive at her door, Deirdre later recalling that ‘I didn’t know where they would come from, but they came’. The kind of actors she nourished brought a new intensity to the stage, leading the journalist Con Houlihan to note that it felt like ‘you were looking at life, you weren’t looking at theatre at all’.
CIÉ GROUP ARCHIVES
The process of digitisation of Ireland’s archival material continues apace, and researchers across the country and beyond will be delighted to hear of the efforts to bring the vast archives of Córas Iompair Éireann to the public. Speaking at the launch of a new website hosting much archival material, CIÉ’s Aidan Murphy noted that ‘this project marks an important moment for CIÉ, as these records give new insight into how rail, canal, tram and road transport connected towns, supported industry and shaped everyday life. Their availability online will be invaluable to researchers and families alike, helping preserve stories that form part of Ireland’s national identity.’ Have a look at www.archives.cie.ie/.
NEW COMMEMORATIVE BRIDGE AT WAR MEMORIAL GARDENS
Work has commenced on a new pedestrian bridge over the Liffey at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, which will link the gardens to the Chapelizod Road. By creating a new entrance to the gardens, the bridge will no doubt increase the familiarity of the public with this important place of reflection and remembrance. More than 60 entries were received for an international design competition in 2019, with Ritchie Studio emerging victorious. The memorial gardens are part of the legacy of Sir Edwin Lutyens, and those interested in reading more about his work in Ireland should consult the Lutyens Trust at www.lutyenstrust.org.uk/portfolio-item/lutyenss-commissions-ireland/.
THE LIFFEY BANKS
Speaking of the Liffey, congratulations to all at the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) on the successful launch of two distinct publications exploring the life and legacy of Tommie Potts, Dublin fireman and unconventional musician. His album The Liffey Banks is considered a defining moment in Irish fiddle-playing, compared by musician Martin Hayes to John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. As well as a biography, The sorrowful and the great, ITMA have also released The unbroken music of heaven, which presents a selection of his melodies and compositions housed in ITMA’s archive. This year (2026) also marks the 90th anniversary of the Pearse Street disaster, in which three Dublin firemen perished and which Potts was fortunate to survive.
GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
The opening of Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum was described by Egypt’s president as ‘a new chapter for the ancient nation’. First announced in 1992, the museum’s eventual cost ran to some $1.2 billion. Interestingly, the museum was designed by Irish architectural firm Heneghan Peng Architects, based in Dublin. Speaking to RTÉ, Róisín Heneghan noted that the design of the museum seeks to respect its environment: ‘We didn’t want to interrupt the profile as you’re coming out of Cairo and seeing the pyramids against the desert. So, we stayed low.’