An Damer – Stair Amharclainne – Máiréad Ní Chinnéide

Sa leabhar seo tá cur síos ar stair na hamharclannaíochta Gaeilge i mBaile Átha Cliath sa dara leath den aois seo caite. Ba é Gael Linn a thionscnaigh Amharclann an Damer agus a stiúir é ó 1955 go dtí 1976. Le linn an ama sin, bhí An Damer ina chuid lárnach de shaol sóisialta phobal na Gaeilge san ardchathair. 

Ar na buanna ba mhó a bhain leis an Damer :

• Bhí buanionad lárnach aige ar Fhaiche Stiabhna
• Trín Chlub Drámaíochta, chothaigh sé lucht leanúna
• Chuir sé borradh faoin drámaíocht amaitéarach
• Spreag sé scríbhneoirí chun drámaí nua a scríobh
• Chothaigh sé ardchaighdeán i ngach gné den obair  

For twenty years a small theatre in Irish flourished on St Stephen’s Green. Called An Damer, it was successful in creating new theatre in Irish which had an enthusiastic audience. A history of the theatre,  AN DAMER: stair amharclainne , written by Máiréad Ní Chinnéide and published by Gael Linn has recently been nominated to the shortlist for the prestigious literary award,  Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin. The book has already been recognised by the American Conference of Irish Studies with an award for the best history book produced in Irish  

The Damer theatre was established by Gael Linn in1955 and operated under its auspices until 1976. Housed in Damer Hall, St Stephen’s Green, An Damer was an innovative theatre, many of whose plays were critically acclaimed. The period of An Damer is regarded as having been a halcyon period in Irish language theatre.  

The book tells of the cultural background of Dublin in the 1950s and of the vibrant Irish speaking ambience created by An Damer. Amateur and professional worked together to produce works written by leading Irish  writers  who included on Brendan Behan or Breandán Ó Beacháin.