The Lambert Puppet Theatre was established in 1972. Eugene Lambert founder and Director of the Lambert Puppet Theatre had an interest in puppetry from a very early age, making his own ventriloquist dummy Frankie, which later developed into Finnegan the vent act, which he still performs today.

In the early years with Finnegan, Eugene toured UK and Ireland extensively and in later years he promoted Ireland for Irish Tourist Board, touring USA, Japan and Australia.

In Ireland, however, Eugene and his wife Mai had a large family, ten children to be precise. Rearing the ten children took a lot of work. Eugene supplemented his day job as refrigeration engineer with his "Punch and Judy Show" appearing in private houses and night time was taken up with appearing with his vent act Finnegan at Gala concerts and Dinners

The Lambert family participated in Jury’s Irish Cabaret for 7 years bringing topical puppet acts to the American audience.

Eugene and his wife Mai visited The Harlequin Puppet Theatre in Colwyn Bay and an International Puppet Festival in Prague, inspired by what they saw they decided to open a puppet theatre of there own, The Lambert Puppet Theatre.Eugene and his family worked in Irish television RTE from 1962-1982 with:

"Carta Hudai"

A marionette puppet production
Written by Padraig O’Neill
Voices by Chris Curran
Directed by Bob Quinn
Puppeteers Eugene, Mai and daughter Judy

"Murphy agus a Chairde"

A satirical, bilingual marionette puppet production, which aired live before the news on RTE
Written by Padraig O’Neill
Voices Chris Curran
Puppeteers Eugene, Mai, Judy, Stephen, Miriam and David

"Wanderly Wagon" The most successful of Children’s Programmes on Irish TV Wanderly Wagon a full-scale carnival wagon pulled by Padraig the Horse, with characters O'Brien (Eugene Lambert), Rory (Bill Golding) and Godmother (Nora O’Mahoney). Also with a star studded puppet cast of Judge, Mr. Crow, Foxy Loxy, Sneaky Snake, Squirrels and Squeaky Mice. Devised by Don Lennox and Eugene Lambert Written by Numerous authors among whom were John O’Donovan, Carolyn Swift, Neil Jordan, Pat Inglesby, Michael Judge, Frank Kelly, Gordon Snell. Designed by Jim O’Hare Puppeteers Gene, Stephen, Miriam, David, Paula, Jonathan, Noel, Liam and Conor (all Lambert).

"Brogeen follows the Magic Tune"

Written by Patricia Lynch
Adapted by Frank Kelly
Directed by Colm O’Briain
Designed by Jan and Quentin Mitchell

"Bosco"

A preschool educational children’s programme with many young presenters. Bosco the red headed cheeky puppet was voiced and manipulated by Miriam Lambert, in later years Paula Lambert took over the character Bosco and tours with Bosco and her own puppet company the Paula Lambert Puppet Theatre.
Devised and Directed by Joe O’Donnell

Joe also wrote numerous Puppet Plays for the Lambert Puppet Theatre.The Lambert Puppet Theatre opened its doors to the public in 1972. The opening ceremony was presided over by broadcaster Gay Byrne and the wonderful comedienne Maureen Potter. Various puppet productions were created through the years by the Lambert Puppet Theatre. For some of the early work, recorded voice tracks were used using top Irish actors.

"The Fisherman and his Soul" by Oscar Wilde

Adapted by Frank Kelly
Voices by Bill Golding, Frank Kelly, Ann O’Dwyer and Eugene Lambert
First performed in the Dublin Theatre Festival in 1962

"Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll

Adapted by Eugene and Miriam Lambert
Voices by Micheal Mac Liammoir, Hilton Edwards, Nora O’Mahony, Racheal Burrows, Clare Mullen, Bill Golding, and various Lamberts

"The only jealousy of Emer" by W.B. Yeats

Voices by Donal McCann, Christopher Casson, Joan O’Hara and Patricia Martin
Directed by Kevin McHugh

"The Selfish Giant" by Oscar Wilde

Narrated by Bill Golding

Today at the Lambert Puppet Theatre the third generation of Lamberts can be seen at work.