According to the local history society the Oisin was located on The Square where Langford Street meets Upper Bridge Street, there was never a cinema on Lower Bridge Street. It was active from 1963 to 1999. Owner Diarmuid O’Shea is on record as saying in 1998 that he was on the verge of closing it down as he could not get the films from Dublin quickly. Even Titanic didn’t do as well as expected. The cinema backed onto the Oisin Ballroom on Ivreagh Road (yes, there were two Oisins) which also operated as a cinema from shortly after it opened in 1938, see separate entry on this site.
Gaiety opened in 1936 and closed as four-screen cinema on 15 June 1997. It was demolished shortly after. The last films were Anaconda, Absolute Power, Con-Air and Scream.
The cinema was in business by 1932 according to press advertising, had a BTH sound system installed, and was showing up to three performances daily. It is still listed in the Kine Year Book of 1948 but seems likely to have closed much earlier than that according to the library.
Foynes certainly had a hall showing films but I don’t know if this is it. It was from October 1942 when Thou Shalt Not Kill was shown and was said to be ongoing.
Astoria opened in 1940 and closed on 15 June 1964. It had 750 seats. It was reopened by Barney Reilly as the Forum Cinema in 1971. Reilly fell victim to the unions for employing non-union labour and film provisions were blocked. He allegedly went on hunger strike in November 1971 before backing down. The cinema was going again on 7 December 1971 with “M.A.S.H.”. It was run by the O’Gormans from 1977 and was notably screening filmed operas in 1985. The two-screen cinema closed in 1999 and was demolished in 2002. It was located in the Glasthule area of the town.
Worth noting that MMW opened as a four-screen affair with two more to be added the following year. It was the enterprise of Joe Mulroy. The opening films included “The Mask of Zorro”, “Babe: Pig in the City”, “The Parent Trap” and “Titanic”.
This may have been a seasonal cinema as the press records two “re"openings on 27 August 1920 with “Willie Riley and his Colleen Bawn” plus two comedies “Why Worry” and “Dancing Bells” and again in August 1922.
I guess this is meant to be the Shannon Cinema in Tarbert in Co. Kerry where the ferry takes you to Clare. The Shannon Cinema was opened in 1952 with “Broken Arrow” and was still known as the Tarbert Cinema in 1985 but was probably not showing films at the time. It also staged boxing tournaments and was run by Patrick Lynch.
A fire in May 2016 is what caused the library to move to temporary accommodation. At the moment the theatre is open for limited events only.
According to the local history society the Oisin was located on The Square where Langford Street meets Upper Bridge Street, there was never a cinema on Lower Bridge Street. It was active from 1963 to 1999. Owner Diarmuid O’Shea is on record as saying in 1998 that he was on the verge of closing it down as he could not get the films from Dublin quickly. Even Titanic didn’t do as well as expected. The cinema backed onto the Oisin Ballroom on Ivreagh Road (yes, there were two Oisins) which also operated as a cinema from shortly after it opened in 1938, see separate entry on this site.
Renamed Savoy about 1945 and closed 1959.
The building is now home to retail outlets and a Chinese restaurant upstairs.
Whitewater Shopping Centre opened April 2006 but cinema came later.
Demolished in 2005.
Gaiety opened in 1936 and closed as four-screen cinema on 15 June 1997. It was demolished shortly after. The last films were Anaconda, Absolute Power, Con-Air and Scream.
Further information indicates a nightclub proposed in 1986, Fianna Fail party offices in 1987 and a furniture shop 1994.
The press reports the Pavilion as “reopenin” in 1936 but no closure date. Gaynor was the nephew of Kilgannon.
The multiplex in the Whitewater Shopping Centre eventually opened but the operator has not supplied an opening date.
The cinema was in business by 1932 according to press advertising, had a BTH sound system installed, and was showing up to three performances daily. It is still listed in the Kine Year Book of 1948 but seems likely to have closed much earlier than that according to the library.
Lee’s had one screen with 190 seats according to a listing of Irish cinemas in 2001.
Foynes certainly had a hall showing films but I don’t know if this is it. It was from October 1942 when Thou Shalt Not Kill was shown and was said to be ongoing.
Astoria opened in 1940 and closed on 15 June 1964. It had 750 seats. It was reopened by Barney Reilly as the Forum Cinema in 1971. Reilly fell victim to the unions for employing non-union labour and film provisions were blocked. He allegedly went on hunger strike in November 1971 before backing down. The cinema was going again on 7 December 1971 with “M.A.S.H.”. It was run by the O’Gormans from 1977 and was notably screening filmed operas in 1985. The two-screen cinema closed in 1999 and was demolished in 2002. It was located in the Glasthule area of the town.
Adelphi closed 15 May 1971 when plans to turn the site into a supermarket were on the table.
Although built 1935 the Magnet actually opened in January 1936.
The County actually closed on 14 January 1999 shortly after the opening of Mayo Movie World.
Worth noting that MMW opened as a four-screen affair with two more to be added the following year. It was the enterprise of Joe Mulroy. The opening films included “The Mask of Zorro”, “Babe: Pig in the City”, “The Parent Trap” and “Titanic”.
This may have been a seasonal cinema as the press records two “re"openings on 27 August 1920 with “Willie Riley and his Colleen Bawn” plus two comedies “Why Worry” and “Dancing Bells” and again in August 1922.
The Gaiety is shown as having 1 screen and 135 seats in a listing of Irish cinemas in 2001.
The Cineplex is shown as having 7 screens and 900 seats in a compilation of Irish cinemas in 2001.
I guess this is meant to be the Shannon Cinema in Tarbert in Co. Kerry where the ferry takes you to Clare. The Shannon Cinema was opened in 1952 with “Broken Arrow” and was still known as the Tarbert Cinema in 1985 but was probably not showing films at the time. It also staged boxing tournaments and was run by Patrick Lynch.
Was still screening films in 1981.
Longford Omniplex opened on 1 May 1998.
Actively showing films as early as 1949 and as late as 1987. Run by Mr Fitzgerald.