Legal issues stall work yet again on arthouse cinema project

Work on the city’s ‘jinxed’ arthouse cinema project has been delayed yet again, Galway City Council has confirmed.

City councillors were told the project was due to recommence on July 1 of this year, but a further delay has been confirmed by the local authority.

“In relation to Picture Palace, works have not recommenced on site as expected, as discussions remain ongoing between all of the various parties involved in relation to a number of final issues including the detailed specification and also in relation to the requisite legal matters,” said Eileen Ruane Acting Director of Services for Community and Culture.

Ms Ruane was responding to a query submitted by city councillor Pádraig Conneely.

She confirmed that a “report will issue to Council in September” on the matter.

Councillor Conneely said it was “unbelievable” that the project hadn’t proceeded as planned.

“We were told that it was going to start in July, and that everything was okay and that all the loose ends had been tied up. And two months later and work hasn’t started.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune