Caroline Downey: ‘Removing toxic people in all aspects of my life, both personal and business, is very freeing’

Caroline Downey has been co-owner of the Gaiety Theatre since 1999. Photo: Evan Doherty

Barry Egan

The office at the very top of the Gaiety Theatre is very rock ‘n’ roll, cluttered with memorabilia and various gifts that have been donated over time.

It looks out, somewhat ­incongruously, onto an emergency ­stairwell, which is frequently inhabited by opera singers warming up, or actors ­having a cigarette break, or the sound of music from Riverdance rehersals rising from the floors ­below.