A plan to relocate the Abbey Theatre encountered serious opposition tonight from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
He made clear his regret at the proposal to shift the Abbey from its place in the city centre's Abbey Street to a new site in the Dublin's docklands.
The Taoiseach, whose Dublin Central constituency embraces the theatre's current address, said he was disappointed that the Abbey's board had done a U-turn after initially approaching him for funds to rebuild on their existing site.
The Taoiseach added: "Today's announcement is deeply disappointing for the local community - and to me."
The theatre has been in Abbey Street since 1904 and was rebuilt after a fire more than 50 years ago.
Theatre artistic director Mr Ben Barnes said: "We have been offered a very good site which would be ready for us to move onto and develop as early as the summer of next year.
"If government funding were made available, that would be our preferred option."
The Workers' Party has called for the retention of the Abbey Theatre on the northside of Dublin saying that the proposed move would further contribute to the lopsided development of the city.
Workers' Party spokesman Mr Seán Ó Cionnaith said the northside had suffered enough over the past 30 years without the removal of one of its most important institutions - the Abbey.
He said: "The area has lost much of its sparkle and to take the Abbey would remove one of the last jewels in its fading crown."
"The Abbey should be retained at its present location in the street from which it takes its name. Certainly it should be expanded and modernised but keep it on the Northside," said Mr. Ó' Cionnaith.
PA