The stones from the facade of the Abbey Theatre have returned to the theatre after an architect kept them safe for over 60 years. 

The stones will be under the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in Phoenix Park after lying in a garden in Killiney for six decades. 

OPW Head of Heritage Rosemary Collier explained when the famous theatre had a fire in 1951, renovations were needed. 

“10 years later, when they came to rebuild the Abbey, the plan was to demolish the bulk of the building was destroyed, but the facade had survived practically unscathed,” she told Moncrieff. 

City architect Dáithí Hanley, however, refused to see the iconic facade completely destroyed. 

“He was a staunch conservation architect at his heart, and he couldn't bear to see this important part of Dublin City, this amazing piece of heritage, be lost for all time. 

“The stone would have been dispersed and probably reused on other buildings elsewhere.” 

Mr Hanley then demanded to take the stones before they were demolished and had each stone numbered so the facade could be reconstructed perfectly one day. 

Current facade of Abbey Theatre, Co Dublin. Image: AlexMastro / Alamy Stock Photo

He chose to put the stones in his back garden in Killiney, Co Dublin, and had the demolition workers place them perfectly so they wouldn’t be damaged. 

“His foresight in wanting it to be saved and protected and potentially reconstructed or reused in the future was incredible,” Ms Collier said. 

“It’s 720 pieces of granite beautifully looked after over the last six decades by the whole of the Hanley family. 

“They’re in very good condition, so much so that you can still read the lettering ‘Abbey Theatre’, which was painted onto the front of the facade. 

“They were placed in such a way so that you've minimised the kind of erosion or damage to them - it became part of the fabric of their garden.” 

Restoring the Abbey Theatre

It was Mr Hanley’s greatest wish that the stones return to their former glory.  

After he died in 2001, the stones went into the care of his wife, Joan. 

“Joan has been working with the OPW to make sure these stones are returned to the Abbey,” Ms Collier said. 

“There’s photographic records and he also saved a banner from around the building. 

“[Mr Hanley] had a very specific mission, and it’s literally that you could construct it from the numbering of the instructions.” 

While there are no specific plans yet for how the Abbey Theatre will use the stones, Ms Collier said she is proud the OPW could enable such a major conservation project. 

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