Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD added: “It is for our artists and their talents that Ireland is known globally. Since its foundation, the Abbey Theatre has been touring internationally, enhancing Ireland’s reputation for creative excellence. I am particularly thrilled that so many international audiences will experience the Abbey Theatre on tour, both through new plays and new productions of Abbey Theatre classics, joining in the conversation inspired and instigated by the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.”

Full details of the Abbey Theatre’s Waking the Nation season as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is available at www.abbeytheatre.ie.

The Waking the Nation Season is made possible through the on-going funding of The Arts Council. International touring of The Plough and the Stars and Cyprus Avenue is supported by Culture Ireland as part of the 2016 Centenary Programme. The Abbey Theatre also gratefully acknowledges a special grant from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, led by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, is a year-long programme of activity to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland’s future. www.ireland.ie