Largest cash gift for Lyric Theatre

An Irish businessman and his wife have donated £1 million towards the building of the new Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

Martin Naughton, chairman of InterTradeIreland, heads up the Glen Dimplex Group, the world’s biggest maker of electric heaters which has 22 companies worldwide.

The donation is the single biggest personal gift ever made to an arts organisation in Northern Ireland, according to fund raising campaigners.

His wife Carmel has also served on the boards of a number of leading arts organisation.

In a statement the couple said: “We have both been inspired by the distinguished history of the Lyric, by the passion and creativity of the artists who work here, by the enormous impact which the lyric has within the community and by its exciting vision for the future.

“We strongly believe in the power of the arts to change lives and to creae a vibrant and healthy economy. We are delighted to be joining the Lyric’s campaign at this critical stage and to be playing our part in the transformation of Northern Ireland’s cultural landscape.”

Arts Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed the gift saying: “As I have made clear since my appointment, I would strongly encourage a greater contribution to arts funding from the private sector and from local government.”

The fabric of the existing Lyric Theatre, located at Ridgeway Street in Stranmillis is deteriorating and space restrictions severely limit the scale and impact of the Lyric’s work.

(JM)