Full steam ahead for cinema as Arts Minister releases funds

The Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan has given the green light to releasing the remaining funds for the Picture Palace arthouse cinema, which is now on track to open by next Spring.

Solas, the company behind the cinema, met with the Minister in Dublin on Wednesday to update him on the latest financial progress in the project after councillors voted unanimously to provide €200,000 towards its completion over four years.

Minister Deenihan confirmed the continued disbursement of all sanctioned funds and permitted the group to proceed to Phase II, which is the fit-out and completion of the three-screen cinema.

“It was a very good meeting. Very positive. We’re going forward as planned. We have all the arrangements in place, it’s full steam ahead,” exclaimed Lelia Doolan, chairperson of Solas.

“In fact he’s such a supporter of the project, he’s coming to our night at the dogs fundraiser on June 7.”

The fundraiser is one of a number of events planned over the summer in a bid to reach a target of €200,000 set by the business community towards the civic space.

There will be an auction of movie memorabilia held during the Film Fleadh in July. Earlier this month the premiere of Neil Jordan’s film, Byzantium, raised money for the arthouse cinema.

“What is really heartening is that the building itself is beginning to look really wonderful. It’s tough old times for everybody. The fact that we’ve been able to keep going…there’s a good old groundswell of support behind us. There’s nothing like a morale boost to know that all of Galway is behind us,” insisted Leila.

The cinema, which will be housed in an iconic building straddling New Dock Street, Dock Road and Merchants’ Road, has been dogged by continual setbacks since the first sod was turned.