President of Ireland, Mary McAleese opens The Helix, at DCUIreland's finest new performing arts venue
16th October 2002

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, officially opened The Helix at Dublin City University this evening and attended an inaugural concert to celebrate the opening. The centre contains three auditoria: The Mahony Hall, which seats 1,200, a full stage theatre with capacity for 450 and a studio theatre for up to 150 people as well as a visual arts gallery.

By far the most beautiful arts centre in Ireland, the Helix cost €36.5 million to build and was financed from a number of sources including Dr Tim Mahony, Chairman of Toyota Ireland, The Atlantic Philanthropies and the Government.

"It has been a privilege for us in Toyota Ireland to be involved with the development of this magnificent edifice which will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the future of the performing arts in this country." Said Dr Mahony. "It is a space which engages and enchants and is a striking testimony to the foresight and commitment of the visionaries here at Dublin City University."

The creation of The Helix represents not only an impressive cultural development for Dublin, Ireland and beyond but has special resonance for people in North Dublin.

The inaugural concert programme was a combination of classical and Irish with a new piece "Fanfare" by composer Colin Mawby as well as performances from Finghin Collins (a graduate of DCU through the RIAM), Zoe Conway, Fionnula Hunt and the National Chamber Choir. The programme of RTE Concert Orchestra with conductor Prionnsias O Duinn included Shostakovich, Mozart, Bill Whelan and Shaun Davey. Compere for the evening was Gay Byrne - who has had a close association with the university for many years.

Aside from the breathtaking vista of The Helix building inside and out, the venue prides itself on the range of performing arts that it can stage. The seating layouts in each of the three venues and the ratio of audience to performance can be changed to allow alternative uses ranging from theatre, cinema, concerts, musicals, dance and pop concerts to exhibitions, banquets, examinations, graduations and conferences.

Already thousands of young children have visited the Helix for the RTE Concert Orchestra's Music in the classroom series. On Saturday, 19 October, The Helix presents 'Access All Areas', an opportunity for members of the public to explore the building. This open day will provide excitement and entertainment for all the family with backstage tours, live performances and plenty of surprises.

Speaking before the official opening of the Helix, the president of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski outlined the university's motives for building the centre. "In developing the arts centre DCU strove to enrich the community in which we live. The university believes it has a major role to play in supporting and facilitating artistic expression and entertainment. The Helix is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all visitors and will undoubtedly become a regular venue for Dubliners and visitors from further afield."

The centre was designed by Polish-born Andrzei Wejchert and is a stunning building with elevations of contrasting glass and granite. Inside, the foyer - featuring inclined columns - is the main organising focal point in the building itself and is arranged over three levels with an interconnecting open void through which light spills from the roof. The void has a series of sweeping stairways, which twist like a helix structure to entice patrons towards the upper levels.

More information can be found at www.thehelix.ie or at The Helix box office, which is open Monday To Saturday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm extending to 8.00 pm from 17 October. The number to call is 01 700 7000.

For further information
Emmet McSwiney
The helix
01 700 7115

Eilis O'Brien
Communications & Marketing
DCU
01 7005217 or 087 205 7125