Bricfeasta Trí Gaeilge

The 2009 series of Bricfeasta trí Gaeilge got off to an entertaining start with the appearance of Fiach Mac Conghaile as guest speaker/ aoichainteoir. Fiach has been the Director of the Abbey Theatre since 2005 and he gave an account of his journey as a graduate from Trinity College Dublin with a BA in Politics to his first job as a stage hand in the Abbey to becoming the Director of the national theatre some 20 years later.

Choosing the performing arts as a career is a challenge in any economic climate, but in the 1980s it was particularly challenging. Fiach spent seven years as Artistic Director of the Project Arts theatre from 1992 and was appointed Commissioner of the Cultural Programme for Ireland's Presidency of the EU. He was Arts Advisor to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue TD, from 2002 until 2005.

A renowned figure in the Irish Film Industry, two of his more well known productions are the film Studs, which he worked on with Paul Mercer, and more recently Lipstick.

During a question and answer session, Fiach spoke of his commitment to producing an Irish-language play in the Abbey in the near future, saying that the difficulty in finding the 'right' script was the only reason for delay. The Abbey Theatre will move to a new site near St Georges Dock and an international competition will be held to choose the design of the new building.

The redevelopment will take some five years and a theatre will remain on the current site. Fiach will oversee this process and expressed his wish that the proposed new building will serve the needs of Irish Theatre into the 21st century and beyond.

Cuireadh tús saoithiúil le sraith 2009 Bricfeasta trí Ghaeilge agus Fiach Mac Conghaile i láthair mar aoichainteoir. Tá Fiach ina Stiúrthóir ar Amharclann na Mainistreach ó 2005 agus chuir sé síos ar a ghairmréim mar chéimí ó Ollscoil na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath, inar bhain sé céim BA sa Pholaitíocht amach, go dtí go bhfuair sé a chéad phost mar ghiolla stáitse in Amharclann na Mainistreach, go dtí gur éirigh sé ina Stiúrthóir ar an Amharclann timpeall 20 bliain ina dhiaidh sin.

Is dúshlán é in aon timpeallacht eacnamaíoch gairmréim a roghnú sna taibhealaíona ach ba dhúshlán ar leith é seo sna 1980í. Chaith Fiach seacht mbliana mar Stiúrthóir Ealaíon ar Ionad Ealaíon an Project ó 1992 agus ceapadh é mar Choimisinéir an Chláir Chultúrtha d'Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an AE. Bhí sé ina Chomhairleoir Ealaíon don Aire Ealaíon, Spóirt agus Turasóireachta, John O'Donoghue TD, ó 2002 go 2005.

Is duine mór le rá é i dTionscal na Scannán in Éirinn agus ba cheann dá chuid léirithe is iomráití ná an scannán 'Studs' ar ar oibrigh sé le Paul Mercer agus níos deireanaí ar 'Lipstick'.

Le linn seisiún ceisteanna agus freagraí, labhair Fiach faoina bheith tiomanta do dhráma Gaeilge a léiriú in Amharclann na Mainistreach go luath amach anseo, agus luaigh sé an deacracht an dráma "ceart" a aimsiú mar an t-aon mhoill air. Bogfaidh Amharclann na Mainistreach chuig láithreán nua gar do Dhuga Naomh Seoirse agus reáchtálfar comórtas idirnáisiúnta chun dearadh an fhoirgnimh nua a roghnú agus mairfidh an athfhorbairt timpeall cúig bliana, cé go bhfanfaidh amharclann ar an láithreán reatha. Déanfaidh Fiach maoirseacht ar an bpróiseas seo agus dúirt sé gur mian leis go bhfreastalódh an foirgneamh nua ar riachtanais Théatar na hÉireann sa 21ú aois agus níos faide anonn.