Plaque Unveiled to Honour Deirdre O’ Connell, founder and artistic director of the Focus Theatre

A plaque marking the site of the Focus Theatre and honouring its founding member and artistic director, Deirdre O’Connell, was today unveiled by Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam, at the former Focus Theatre, 6 Pembroke Place, Dublin 2. Uachtarán na hEireann Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins were in attendance.

Founded in 1967, the Focus Theatre became a vital part of Dublin’s cultural life, pioneering new approaches to performance and actor training, and providing a platform for some of Ireland’s most important theatrical voices. Drawing on her training in New York, Deirdre O’Connell was instrumental in introducing the Stanislavski approach to acting to Ireland, encouraging truthfulness, discipline and emotional honesty on stage. Under her direction, the theatre was renowned for its commitment to artistic excellence, authenticity and experimentation, influencing generations of Irish actors and directors.

Regarded as one of Ireland’s most influential figures in Irish theatre, Deirdre O’ Connell was born in the Bronx, New York, to Irish parents. Like many first generation Irish-Americans, Deirdre was proud of her Irish identity, which led her to her first stage performance at the local Irish community’s Fheis. She later trained and performed alongside several rising Hollywood stars, including Marilyn Monroe and Bob Dylan. But rather than continuing her path towards Hollywood, she arrived in Dublin in 1961, at just 23 years old.

She opened her school at Ely Place in 1963, and while singing in O’ Donoghue’s of Baggot Street, she met Luke Kelly who she married later that year. She succeeded in her dream of founding a theatre, and opened The Focus Theatre at 6 Pembroke Place in 1967. The Focus Theatre never made any money, and relied on limited grants, but heavily depended on the support of Deirdre’s husband Luke, family, friends, and fellow arts enthusiasts.

Speaking at the unveiling Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam said,“ Today we honour Deirdre O’Connell—an artist whose courage reshaped Irish theatre. In founding the Focus Theatre she built a home for truth, craft and discovery; as a teacher she forged a generation who would define our modern stage. This plaque does more than mark a building; it sets a standard and celebrates a legacy that continues to raise the bar.”

Uachtarán na hEireann Michael D Higgins said of Deirdre O’ Connell “May I express my warmest appreciation to Dublin City Council for today’s unveiling of a most fitting plaque in honour of Focus Theatre and its founder, the late Deirdre O’Connell. It is a deeply deserved recognition of a life, and of a space, that gave so much to the artistic and cultural heritage of Dublin, and indeed to the spirit of Ireland itself, a gesture of gratitude that now takes its place among the landmarks of our shared cultural memory.”

“For Sabina and myself, this occasion carries a special personal resonance. Deirdre was a close and cherished friend of ours, one whose generosity of spirit, fierce artistic integrity and luminous imagination touched all who had the privilege to have known her.”

The decision to erect the plaque was made by the Dublin City Council Commemorations & Naming Committee, whose chair, Councillor Donna Cooney, said, “The Commemorative Plaques Scheme allows the City to formally commemorate people who have made a significant contribution to the life of Dublin. We welcome suggestions from the public for people and events to be commemorated. We particularly welcome proposals for plaques for women. Full details are on the Council website.”

Irish costume designer Joan Bergin and writer Mary Moynihan spoke at today’s ceremony, recounting Deirdre’s life and contribution to theatre. Cllr Dermot Lacey proposed that the plaque be erected. Today, The Dot Theatre occupies the space that was The Focus Theatre.