Garry Hynes, Artistic Director of Druid is to receive the President’s Award at the upcoming Galway Chamber Business Awards 2022, in association with The Shannon Airport Group. In announcing the award, Galway Chamber cited Garry’s “immense contribution to the Irish and international cultural landscape” which has “not just put Galway on the theatre map but made it a vital theatrical destination of renown.”
The award will be formally presented at the Galway Chamber Business Awards 2022 which will take place in the Galmont Hotel tomorrow Friday November 18. The President’s Award is sponsored by PwC.
Garry Hynes co-founded Druid in 1975 and has served as its Artistic Director for a combined total of more than 40 years. She was also Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin from 1991 to 1994.
Over the course of her impressive career she has also worked with the Gate Theatre (Ireland ); the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court (UK ); Center Theatre Group, Second Stage, Signature Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, the Kennedy Center, the Mark Taper Forum and the Spoleto Festival (USA ).
A serial award winner for her directorial work, among the notable recognitions she has received are the Joe A. Callaway Award (New York ) for Outstanding Directing for The Cripple of Inishmaan, a Tony Award for Direction for The Beauty Queen of Leenane as well as multiple Irish Times/ ESB Irish Theatre Awards for her work with Druid.
She has also received Honorary Doctorates from University College Dublin, University of Dublin, the National University of Ireland and the National Council for Education Awards. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, and a member of the Honorary Council of the Royal Hibernian Academy (HRHA ).
In 2006 Garry was awarded the freedom of Galway city and in 2011, Garry was appointed Adjunct Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at University of Galway.
Speaking about the upcoming award, Dermot Nolan, President of Galway Chamber said THAT The purpose of the Galway Chamber President’s Award, supported by PwC, is to recognise an individual who has made a contribution to the business life of Galway that is outstanding in every way.
“There are few people who meet that description more fittingly than Garry Hynes.
“Look at all that she has accomplished over the course of her breath-taking career, a career that has made such an immense contribution to the Irish and international cultural landscape. Her work with Druid has not just put Galway on the theatre map but made it a vital theatrical destination of renown.
“It is thanks to the leadership, artistic flair and business achievements of Garry Hynes that we have such a thriving dramatical presence in Galway which rightly attracts visitors from all over the world. It is impossible to truly evaluate the impact this has had on our local economy but it would be fair to say it has helped bring tens of millions in revenue to our local economy over the years.
“Garry has been feted on many occasions for all her theatrical triumphs and rightly so. However we believe that is only proper to also recognise her contribution to the business life of Galway and to acknowledge how much her magnificent achievements have benefitted this city and county over the years. We are honoured she will join us at the Galway Chamber Business Awards to receive this award and to see how warmly she is cherished by the business community of Galway,” Mr Nolan concluded.
