Businessman Dermot Desmond's attempts to support our National Theatre have been misinterpreted, writes John McColgan.
The old adage of "never allowing a good deed go unpunished" seems most appropriate in the case of businessman Dermot Desmond's willingness to support the Abbey Theatre through difficult times.
At the outset I must declare my admiration and respect for Mr Desmond over many years. I know his generosity has led him to support many causes without seeking public recognition or gratitude for his actions.
In recent weeks much has been made in the media of a letter written by the businessman to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about a new home for our National Theatre.
The interpretation put on this in some quarters is that Mr Desmond was attempting to seek a role for himself in the affairs of the Abbey.
The facts, however, tell a very different story.
In 2003 I was appointed chairman of the Abbey One Hundred Committee. One aspect of this function was to raise funds to ensure an appropriate celebration of the centenary year.
In June of that year, and in my capacity as chairman, I wrote to a number of prominent businessmen seeking their financial support.
When my "begging letter" arrived on Dermot Desmond's desk it was not binned. Indeed if he had ignored my letter he would not now be depicted as someone intent on interfering with our National Theatre.
The upshot of my letter was a lunch I had with Mr Desmond on September 29th, during which he told me he felt that the Abbey Theatre was definitely deserving of the support of the private sector in any constructive manner possible.
We also discussed the ongoing debate regarding the Abbey's new home. At that time there was considerable speculation about it staying in its current location or a move to a new location, with O'Connell Street and the Docklands both mooted as possible new homes.
Our lunch ended with a commitment by Mr Desmond, duly honoured, to donate €200,000 for the National Theatre's centenary celebrations.
Later in 2003 and throughout 2004, until I left the board of the theatre, I met and spoke to Dermot Desmond on many occasions about many topics, including the Abbey Theatre.
Any discussion we had about the Abbey always ended with an offer from him of support and assistance in whatever way he could.
In December 2004 Dermot Desmond contacted me about a site adjacent to the IFSC but under the control of the Dublin Docklands Authority (DDA), which he believed might be worth considering as a suitable new location for the theatre.
I duly informed Eithne Healy, the Abbey chairwoman, and Dr John O'Mahony, the board member with responsibility for all issues relating to the Abbey location. I contacted the DDA to make arrangements for the relevant board members to see the site.
It was in this context that Dermot Desmond wrote to An Taoiseach enthusing about the possibility and potential for the Abbey of relocating to a site in Dublin's Docklands - a letter for which he is now being criticised.
In this regard what he was doing was most welcome, particularly as the board of the Abbey was most eager to explore all the possibilities regarding the location of the theatre into the future. And the board was fully supportive of this site being considered.
The fact that Dermot Desmond would suggest a site in the Docklands could hardly come as a surprise to many, given his central and strategic role in the germination of the International Financial Services Centre, unquestionably one of the most outstanding economic successes in this country in the past half-century.
There was no gain or profit of any nature in his putting forward a particular site.
Unfortunately, his generosity and willingness to assist have now had placed upon them a whiff of impropriety.
Indeed, it was heartening to read An Irishman's Diary on August 24th in which Kevin Myers wrote: "What this country needs is more wealthy private patrons of the arts: that is, more Dermot Desmonds . . ."
The issue of the Abbey's location was an ongoing topic throughout 2004, and late in that year it was decided to seek a meeting with John O'Donoghue, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism.
This meeting took place earlier this year, and among those present were the Abbey chairman, myself and representatives of the Dublin Docklands Authority.
The site has been thoroughly looked at and investigated by all interested parties.
Located at the foot of the Seán O'Casey Bridge, close to the present location of the Abbey, this site should be considered as an attractive and compelling choice as a home for a new and invigorated Abbey.
Following on what has been a difficult time for the Abbey, this must be seen as a very positive and most welcome initiative.
John McColgan was a member of the Abbey board from 1999 to 2004. He was also chairman of the Abbey One Hundred Committee