LIAM NEESON HOSTS LYRIC THEATRE DINNER IN NEW YORK

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The American Ireland Fund was strongly represented at an exclusive dinner in New York, hosted by County Antrim-born film star Liam Neeson. The Soho House event aimed to raise awareness of the invaluable cross-community work carried out in Northern Ireland over the past fifty years by the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. Liam is Patron of the Lyric and spoke fondly of the theatre where he started his professional career in the 1970s:

“Belfast was not a pretty town to be living in,” he said. “There was serious trouble, but the Lyric was like a Belisha beacon of light and hope six nights a week, doing everything from Shakespeare to Yeats to O’Casey with a group of actors and actresses that affected me very deeply and still do.

“There is still much work to do in Northern Ireland if we are to create a healthy, prosperous and inclusive community after decades of civil unrest. The Lyric Theatre will always be precious to me – it is too important to the cultural and social life of Northern Ireland for this building to fall apart,”

Liam introduced guests to the Lyric’s vision for a new twelve million pound theatre on the banks of the River Lagan which will include a dedicated Education Space for the creative development of young people from all parts of the community.

Speaking at the event, Liam said: “Great theatre has the capacity to touch our lives in extraordinary ways and for over fifty years the Lyric has been an indispensable part of Northern Ireland’s cultural life – empowering, inspiring, healing, engaging and entertaining. In the face of the deep divisions that have traditionally kept communities apart, the Lyric has served as a powerful unifying force, providing a safe and neutral space in which people from different backgrounds can enjoy a shared experience and explore their creativity and culture.

“Dramatic growth in the Lyric’s audiences over the years, and an overwhelming demand for youth and community activities, has highlighted the pressing need for more and better facilities. Tragically, the physical deterioration of the existing building has become acute at a time when its services are most needed, and the Lyric risks closure within a few short years. That is why I urgently require your support for this Appeal which will raise the funds to build a new theatre and secure the brightest possible future for this great cultural institution. Together we can write the next exciting chapter in one of our greatest success stories and create a lasting legacy for future generations. You will be investing not only in a new building, but in building a new Belfast.”