The Abbey Theatre is Ireland's national theatre, founded in 1904 by W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and J.M. Synge to create a home for Irish dramatic writing. It has premiered plays by Sean O'Casey, Brian Friel, and many of the major figures in Irish theatre, and continues to champion new Irish writing alongside classic work.
The current building dates from 1966 (the original was destroyed by fire), but the institution and its mission are unchanged. The smaller Peacock stage downstairs takes more adventurous programming. The box office is on Lower Abbey Street, a short walk from O'Connell Street.