This cinema was run by Patrick O’Shea and was one of a number with the name. The 800-seater was in operation by 1939 and was equipped with an RCA sound system. It was still screening films in May 1997 when it screened the Irish premiere of “Marvin’s Room” although this may have been a one-off. It is now some sort of restaurant.
The Adelphi was in operation by 1952. It was renovated and reopened in September 1971 under new management and was still screening films in 1976 but the closure date is unclear.
A Mrs Rafferty reopened this on 13 November 1980 as the Mecca with a double-bill of “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever”. The eventual closing date is unclear.
The Bohemia appears to have been a three-tier house with 202 seats in the balcony, 180 in the stalls and 50 in the pit. The Kine Year Book lists it as the Ardee Cinema for the first few years of operation. It closed in 1979.
Affectionately known as Martin’s after its owner Martin Fleming, but latterly run by Brigid Fleming and a Mrs Roche with seating reduced to 300. Also staged boxing tournaments and plays, no advertising after 1967.
The Savoy was operating as a cinema from at least 1945 and was originally run but the Roscrea & Athy Cinema Company. It was renovated in 1981 at a cost of £25,000. It was up for sale in 1986 and originally closed in 1989. It was reopened by Aidan Doyle on 3 August 1990 when the first film said to be shown was “Pretty Woman”. Tickets for the 450-seater were just £1 for matinee screenings. It is unclear when it closed for the final time.
Yet more information. Closed in December 1994 when the new Omniplex opened and was demolished in May 1995. Sounds like it was owned by Ward Anderson from mid-1970s. A newspaper report stated it consisted of three “theatres”.
It was announced in November 1945 that the Abbey would be open in a matter of weeks. The cinema also had a ballroom attached which opened on 5 May 1946 with the Kingdom Dance Band performing. Like the old Abbey it was run by the Tobin Brothers. It has been derelict since the 1980s and is a listed building. Contrary to the above it was listed in the Kine Year Books from 1949 until 1971!
Cinema Killarney opened as the Cineplex on 20 December 1996 with 800 seats across four screens (screen 1 had the largest with 320), although the official opening wasn’t until 6 February 1997. The IR£2 million venture was built on the site of the old Lakes Cinema and was then a joint enterprise between the Cooper family and the Ward Anderson circuit. A fifth screen was added around 2006. The cinema was brought to book in 2008 for discriminating against a woman who was breast-feeding in the cinema and ordered to pay compensation. It is run by the grandson of the owner of the old Casino/Lakes Cinema Thomas Cooper.
One source states the cinema was still operating until 1967. The County Council bought the property in 1968 to use as a factory to process industrial waste but sold it again in 1976.
The Hibernian opened on 20 May 1945 with “In Society”, an Abbott and Costello film, and was designed by Michael Scott from Dublin. It was run by County Cinemas and most of the staff came from the County Cinema including the manager Packy Holmes. It had a Western Electric sound system fitted along with 920 seats (250 of them in the semi-circular balcony) although this had been reduced to 770 by 1971. It closed at the end of 1988 to be converted into a twin-screen cinema and reopened as the Ritz on 3 March 1989. The film “Cocktail” with Tom Cruise was one of the films shown in the new 310-seat house. It is believed to have closed in 2002 shortly before the IMC opened in the town.
The Rainbow Cinema was advertising by 1945.
This cinema was run by Patrick O’Shea and was one of a number with the name. The 800-seater was in operation by 1939 and was equipped with an RCA sound system. It was still screening films in May 1997 when it screened the Irish premiere of “Marvin’s Room” although this may have been a one-off. It is now some sort of restaurant.
The cinema was up for sale in the early-1970s. It was reopened in 1973 by Joe and Marie Flanagan but closed by 1987.
The Adelphi was in operation by 1952. It was renovated and reopened in September 1971 under new management and was still screening films in 1976 but the closure date is unclear.
The Classic was in business by 1946 and still going in 1963.
A Mrs Rafferty reopened this on 13 November 1980 as the Mecca with a double-bill of “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever”. The eventual closing date is unclear.
The site is now home to a Chinese takeaway and looks completely rebuilt. It’s at number 71.
Films began in June 1951 not long after the hall opened and ended when the hall closed as a cinema on 31 December 1969.
Bob’s Bingo Club operated here in the 1960s.
The building was flattened in April 1961.
Savoy was two screens from 1979 following a change of ownership. Opening films “The Champ” and “A Bridge Too Far”.
The Bohemia appears to have been a three-tier house with 202 seats in the balcony, 180 in the stalls and 50 in the pit. The Kine Year Book lists it as the Ardee Cinema for the first few years of operation. It closed in 1979.
Affectionately known as Martin’s after its owner Martin Fleming, but latterly run by Brigid Fleming and a Mrs Roche with seating reduced to 300. Also staged boxing tournaments and plays, no advertising after 1967.
The Savoy was operating as a cinema from at least 1945 and was originally run but the Roscrea & Athy Cinema Company. It was renovated in 1981 at a cost of £25,000. It was up for sale in 1986 and originally closed in 1989. It was reopened by Aidan Doyle on 3 August 1990 when the first film said to be shown was “Pretty Woman”. Tickets for the 450-seater were just £1 for matinee screenings. It is unclear when it closed for the final time.
Architect for the scheme was Frank Gibney.
The Omniplex opened on 6 July 2007.
Yet more information. Closed in December 1994 when the new Omniplex opened and was demolished in May 1995. Sounds like it was owned by Ward Anderson from mid-1970s. A newspaper report stated it consisted of three “theatres”.
Exact opening date 12 May 1947.
It was announced in November 1945 that the Abbey would be open in a matter of weeks. The cinema also had a ballroom attached which opened on 5 May 1946 with the Kingdom Dance Band performing. Like the old Abbey it was run by the Tobin Brothers. It has been derelict since the 1980s and is a listed building. Contrary to the above it was listed in the Kine Year Books from 1949 until 1971!
Cinema Killarney opened as the Cineplex on 20 December 1996 with 800 seats across four screens (screen 1 had the largest with 320), although the official opening wasn’t until 6 February 1997. The IR£2 million venture was built on the site of the old Lakes Cinema and was then a joint enterprise between the Cooper family and the Ward Anderson circuit. A fifth screen was added around 2006. The cinema was brought to book in 2008 for discriminating against a woman who was breast-feeding in the cinema and ordered to pay compensation. It is run by the grandson of the owner of the old Casino/Lakes Cinema Thomas Cooper.
One source states the cinema was still operating until 1967. The County Council bought the property in 1968 to use as a factory to process industrial waste but sold it again in 1976.
The Palace was operating in 1929 as can be seen by the newspaper ad. No record after 1941 when Lyons and Doris opened the Odeon.
THIS CINEMA IS CLOSED
The Hibernian opened on 20 May 1945 with “In Society”, an Abbott and Costello film, and was designed by Michael Scott from Dublin. It was run by County Cinemas and most of the staff came from the County Cinema including the manager Packy Holmes. It had a Western Electric sound system fitted along with 920 seats (250 of them in the semi-circular balcony) although this had been reduced to 770 by 1971. It closed at the end of 1988 to be converted into a twin-screen cinema and reopened as the Ritz on 3 March 1989. The film “Cocktail” with Tom Cruise was one of the films shown in the new 310-seat house. It is believed to have closed in 2002 shortly before the IMC opened in the town.
The building was believed to have been a conversion of a garage and was still screening films in August 1972 but there is no advertising after this.