Programme
Since its opening in 2002 by President Mary McAleese, The Helix has generated an impressive reputation for staging cutting edge and diverse theatre and music.
The seating layouts in each of the three venues and the ratio of audience to performance can be changed to allow alternative uses ranging from theatre, cinema, concerts, musicals, dance and pop concerts to exhibitions, banquets, examinations, graduations and conferences. The Helix stages everything from opera to orchestral music, drama, comedy, rock gigs, ballets and even ice shows.
The venue has welcomed some of the greatest musical and theatre acts from home and abroad. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett, Bryn Terfel, Brian Kennedy, Roddy Doyle's 'The Woman Who Walked Into Doors'. Van Morrisson, Lou Reed and Sinead O’Connor to name but a few.
The Helix entertainment programme provides something for everybody of all ages. For more information on our programme, click here.
Conferencing
The Helix is the natural choice for Conferencing for its proximity to the city centre and the airport, the breathtaking building, its four amazing venues, in-house technical team, catering and bar facilities, audio visual services, wifi and telephone access, ample parking and experienced events management team. For more information click here.
Volunteers
The Helix Volunteers were instituted in 2002 when the venue opened and are a key part of the experience that patrons and audience members have when they come to The Helix. For more information click here.
Location
The Helix is located in Dublin City University (DCU), on an 85 acre campus, three miles north of Dublin city centre and a 15-minute drive from Dublin airport.
The design of the campus and the bright modern architecture make DCU an attractive place for over 10,000 registered students to study, as well as strengthening a vibrant social and cultural environment. DCU prides itself on the range of its facilities, both academic and recreational, of which The Helix stands out as the most impressive. See a map of the DCU campus.
Speaking before the official opening of The Helix, the president of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski outlined the university's motives for building the centre.
“In developing this arts centre,” he explained, “DCU strove to enrich the community in which we live. The university believes it has a major role to play in supporting and facilitating artistic expression and entertainment. The Helix is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all visitors and will undoubtedly become a regular venue for Dubliners and visitors from further afield."
Patrons can make use the multi-storey 850 car parking facility on campus when coming to a performance in our venue.
For information on how to get to The Helix, please click here.
The Architecture of the Building
The Helix was designed by the late Polish-born architect Andrzei Wejchert (A&D Wejchert & Partners Architects).
It is a three level stunning building with elevations of contrasting glass and granite, with an open void through which light spills from the roof. The 12,000 square metres of the building are organised by a breathtaking foyer, magnificent inclined columns and helix-shaped stairway, as well as to the Café, Box Office, Sweet Shop, toilets and other amenities.
It was after the impressive helical-shaped staircase that the venue was given its name. It is an imposing feature of the venue that dominates its entrance and is located at the centre of the building, leading patrons to the different floors of the building.
The Helix Building was awarded several prizes:
- Irish Concrete Society Award - Building Category
- Irish Joinery Award - Joinery of the Mahony Hall - 1st Prize
- Plan Opus Building Awards Winner (2003).
Funding
The project was developed by DCU Educational Trust, a registered charity established in 1988 to advance the development of DCU. The Trust secured the funding from a number of sources including Toyota Ireland, The Atlantic Philanthropies and the Government.
The concert hall, also called The Mahony Hall, was named in honour of the late Dr. Tim Mahony, a long time supporter of the Arts in Ireland, who made a major gift to the Arts Venue.
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