Arthouse cinema to open in Autumn

One of the most protracted building sagas in the city’s history is expected to be resolved early in the Autumn when the new arthouse cinema on Lower Merchant’s Road is finally set to open its doors.

The project has been dogged by a series of delays since Galway City Council handed over the city centre site for the Solas Picture Palace, making a variation to the City Development Plan seven years ago.

Delays have resulted from concerns over structural damage to an adjoining property, which brought work on the site to a halt in June 2010, and the original developer subsequently going out of business – forcing the project out to tender for a second time.

But the hoarding around the site has been removed in recent weeks and Solas spokesperson Lelia Doolan said the cinema was now on target for an official opening in the Autumn.

“We have set a target for the Autumn and I don’t want to be more precise than that,” said Ms Doolan.

“Hopefully, everybody will be ready for some good Autumn and Winter evenings at the cinema by that stage. We are delighted by the thought that we are now into the final phase of construction and that we’re nearly ready for action.”

The three-screen cinema will have a total of 328 seats, with a minimum of 63 screenings per week. It will feature a café, bar, and bookshop.

It also boasts spectacular coloured windows by designer Patrick Scott, who passed away last week, which Ms Doolan said would bring a magical atmosphere to the building.

“It has been a long journey and we are very, very glad to see it progressing at this stage,” said Ms Doolan.

She said it would be a very timely addition to the cultural life of the city, at a time when Galway has applied to become a UNESCO World City of Film and is also aiming to become European Capital of Culture in 2020.

“It is in the right place, on a beautiful site in the centre of the city, right where all the action is,” she added.