The Irish Times

The Cabinet decided on Tuesday that the Abbey should stay where it is, but moving to O'Connell Street would be far better. The National Theatre on Ireland's main street - what could be more symmetrical than that? And it shouldn't be a pipe dream, either, because Dublin City Council is in the process of acquiring a large parcel of property on O'Connell Street that would more than meet the Abbey's needs. The subject of a compulsory- purchase order, the parcel includes the former Carlton Cinema; the adjoining site, which has been derelict since a fire during Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland, in September 1979; the office block where Dublin County Council did most of its land rezoning; and Dr Quirkey's Good Time Emporium.