We at DLR Mill Theatre are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Joe McPartlin, one of our esteemed founding Directors. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Joe’s extended family and friends during this difficult time. His contributions to our theatre and the arts community will be remembered and cherished.
Former Mill Theatre Manager, Karen Carleton, reflects on the journey with Joe to bring the Mill Theatre to life.
‘’In 1999, Chartered Land posted a notice about their intention to build a new town centre in Dundrum. Joe McPartlin and Michael Doyle from Sandyford Little Theatre and JD Byrne and myself from Balally Players asked to meet, with the hope that a performance space for the cultural life of Dundrum be provided for the community. More meetings with Joe Reilly and his team over the year followed -but there were other proposals too, a swimming pool and sports arena. It was 2001 before we saw an actual plan for a performance space.
It wasn’t quite what we had in mind so over the next number of years, Joe researched every small theatre in the British Isles. He brought all this to the board room and when I was hot under the collar over plastic seating and linoleum floors, Joe’s interpersonal skills, his affability, his experience in negotiations, his status as Director of the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and his leadership meant that over the months and years, plans changed and a theatre was born. Standing in his hi viz vest and hard hat in the crater that was Building 13, Joe was a very happy man in 2005.
In early 2006, Joe Reilly, his Chartered Land team and Castlethorn Construction handed over to the community a beautiful, key ready, fully fitted out theatre, at cost of 10 million euro. It is hard to describe how we and the whole community felt.
Joe in his recent illness, reminisced with Michael over his early times in Sandyford Little Theatre and with me over those years 2005,2006.
Glory Days, he called them.
Glory Days
Yeah, they’ll pass you by,
Glory Days, In the wink of a young girl’s eye.
You made a difference Joe. Thank you.’’
Current Chairman of DLR Mill Theatre, Pat Kinsley, pays tribute to Joe’s kindness, empathy, and passion for the arts.
‘Joe was a gentle man with a quiet strength and wisdom that touched everyone around him. His calm demeanour and thoughtful perspective brought clarity and kindness to every conversation. He had a rare gift of empathy and dignity, always listening with care and offering insights that were both profound and often lightened with his wonderful sense of humour. A true lover of the theatre and the arts, Joe always carried a unique appreciation of creativity. As a founding DLR Mill Theatre board member, his passion and commitment to the arts community will leave a lasting legacy. We, his fellow board members, deeply mourn his loss but cherish the impact he made and the friendship we shared.”