Irish American Partnership
Founded in 1975, Druid is a touring theater company anchored in the cultural fabric of Galway in the West of Ireland, with its eyes on the global stage.
It began as a bold idea: to create Ireland’s first professional theater company outside of Dublin. There were few resources with which to build a touring theater company in the West, but through sheer dedication and the support of the Galway community, founders Garry Hynes, Marie Mullen, and Mick Lally made the idea a reality. That reality has since become an international success story of extraordinary dimensions. Druid is a writers theater, exploring ambitious projects and reimagining the classics while premiering new work annually. The company believes that audiences have the right to see first class professional theater in their own communities.
The theater deepens engagement with communities by visiting primary and secondary schools to foster a love of creativity and drama in younger audiences. The Partnership proudly supports Druid’s Community & Education program, specifically its ‘FUEL’ young artist residency program based in Galway. Open to playwrights, directors, and theater-makers based in the West of Ireland, FUEL supports the development of new young voices in Irish theater, encouraging the next generation of Irish artists.