DUBLIN, IRELAND — The University of Notre Dame and the Abbey Theatre today signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a formal partnership to advance Irish performing arts through education, production, and cultural exchange. The agreement was signed at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin, marking a significant milestone in the relationship between two institutions committed to celebrating and advancing Irish culture.
The partnership centers on two major initiatives: the Abbey Theatre's curation of theatrical content for Notre Dame's Threshold Festival at Kylemore Abbey in August 2025, and the development of innovative theatre education programs combining hands-on learning at Kylemore with professional experiences at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
"This partnership represents an exciting convergence of artistic excellence and educational opportunity," said Lisa Caulfield, director of Notre Dame Kylemore. "By bringing together the Abbey Theatre's century-long tradition of dramatic excellence with Notre Dame's commitment to fostering cultural exchange in the West of Ireland, we are creating transformative experiences for students, artists, and audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. The success of our collaboration on last summer's Threshold Festival demonstrated the tremendous potential of this partnership, and we are thrilled to formalize our commitment to advancing Irish performing arts together."
The signing ceremony was attended by Abbey Theatre leadership, including Mark O'Brien, Chief Executive, and Marie Lawlor, Deputy Chief Executive. Also present in the audience was Dr. Michael Pippenger, vice president and associate provost for internationalization, along with adjunct faculty member for Notre Dame’s Creative Writing Summer Seminar course and Abbey Theatre contributor, playwright, and lecturer Marina Carr.
Businessman and philanthropist Martin Naughton, whose support has been instrumental to both institutions, attended the ceremony and expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration. "I am absolutely delighted to see this agreement signed today, bringing together two great Irish institutions," Naughton said. "My wife Carmel serves on the advisory council of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame and is a patron of the Abbey Theatre, so we have watched with great interest as these two organizations have found common ground. This partnership represents the beginning of something truly special—a transatlantic bridge that will enrich Irish performing arts and create extraordinary opportunities for the next generation of artists and students."
Michael Pippenger, vice president and associate provost for internationalization, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership: "This collaboration with the Abbey Theatre exemplifies Notre Dame's commitment to fostering meaningful global partnerships that advance both education and cultural understanding. By connecting our students, faculty, and the wider Notre Dame family with one of Ireland's most prestigious cultural institutions, we are creating opportunities for transformative learning experiences that bridge academic study with professional practice in the performing arts. This partnership strengthens our presence in Ireland and deepens our engagement with Irish culture in ways that will benefit our entire community for years to come."
"This partnership takes shape in the broader context of Notre Dame's reinvigorated commitment to the arts through the Arts Initiative, an historic investment in interdisciplinary arts research and creative practice. Collaboration among faculty, students, local communities, and arts organizations in the University's global network is key to the success of the project. This agreement with the Abbey Theatre stands as a prime example of that kind of collaboration and promises to advance impactful programming and instruction in the most interdisciplinary of artforms—theatrical performance," says Michael Schreffler, director of the Notre Dame Arts Initiative, associate dean for the Arts in the College of Arts and Letters, and Art History professor in the Department of Art, Art History & Design at Notre Dame.
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About the Abbey Theatre
Founded in 1904, the Abbey Theatre is Ireland's national theatre and has played a pivotal role in Irish cultural life for over a century. The Abbey is committed to imaginatively engaging with Irish society through the production of ambitious theatre and the development of new voices in playwriting, directing, and performance.
About Notre Dame Kylemore
Since 2016, Notre Dame Kylemore has served as a hub for educational and cultural exchange in the West of Ireland. Located at the historic Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, County Galway, ND Kylemore offers immersive learning experiences that connect students with Irish history, culture, and contemporary society while fostering meaningful collaborations with Irish cultural institutions.
Media contact:
Lisa Caulfield
Director, Notre Dame Kylemore
Kylemore Abbey, Co. Galway
lcaulfield@nd.edu
Originally published by at kylemore.nd.edu on December 05, 2025.