Abbey Theatre

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Playhouse in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, associated with the literary revival of the early 1900s, that was part of a general cultural Irish revival. The theatre opened in 1904 and staged the works of a number of Irish dramatists, including Lady Gregory, W B Yeats, J M Synge, and Seán O'Casey. Burned down in 1951, the Abbey Theatre was rebuilt in 1966.

Financed by Annie Horniman, the theatre was built to house the Irish National Theatre Society, formed in 1901 by W G Fay, Yeats, and Lady Gregory to perform the plays of new Irish dramatists. The theatre's licence was held by Lady Gregory and for most of the early years she and Yeats were its only directors. The theatre made a name for itself as a specialized repertory theatre with well-acted plays of fine quality. Other early playwrights include Padraic Colum, George Fitzmaurice, and George Bernard Shaw.

The Union Jack signifies the islands' wish to preserve links with Britain. The nine stars representing the islands are placed according to their locations. Effective date: 11 April 1997. >>