Stella Cinema

207 Lower Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6

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Additional Info

Firms: Higginbotham & Stafford

Functions: Bar, Movies (First Run)

Styles: Neo-Classical

Nearby Theaters

Stella Cinema 2002, Dublin

The Stella Cinema was designed in a Classical style by the architectural firm Higginbotham & Stafford and was located just to the south of Dublin city centre (not to be confused with the later Stella Cinema (1955-1976) in the Mount Merion district).

It had a Ballyknockan granite facade that had a central window which was flanked by two decorative columns, topped by decorative stone balls. It opened on 29th January 1923 with Violet Hopson in “The Imperfect Lover”. Seating was provided for 1,283 in stalls and circle levels in what was advertised as the ‘Largest Picture Theatre in Dublin But One’. There was a beautiful water fountain in front of the screen which had different coloured lights played onto it during the interval. An additional facility at the Stella Cinema was a dancehall on the first floor. It was built for and operated by the independent exhibitors the O'Grady family.

In the 1970’s it hosted several concerts by groups such as The Boomtown Rats, and rock artist Elvis Costello performed on stage in March 1978.

In later years the granite facade was covered over by a metal grille and in September 1981 the Stella Cinema was sub-divided into two screens, with seating given as 280 and 180 seats.

In 2003 the Stella Cinema was purchased from the O'Grady family by the Ward Anderson chain and they closed it in August 2004.

Restoration work began in February 2017 and it re-opened as a cinema & cocktail bar on 31st October 2017.

Contributed by Lost Memory, Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 21 comments)

irishcine
irishcine on December 26, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Remains shut, no signs of any activity either demolition or any preparations for demolition.

brokenfaces
brokenfaces on March 12, 2013 at 8:41 am

still nothing happening there

x19dude
x19dude on April 19, 2016 at 5:17 pm

Very interesting movie on the Irish times website today about the inside of the cinema and how it is fairing 12 years after closing down. The interior ( original 1923 ceiling is phenomenal – Please please please dont let this be demolished – the original interior decor of the cinema is intact and is wonderful http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/selling-the-stella-behind-doors-of-an-old-dublin-institution-1.2616085

morcoms
morcoms on August 10, 2016 at 5:57 pm

Hi what would be the chance of getting a list of all movies played at the Stella in a certain year – is there a historian place I could go to in Dublin for that?

popcorn_pete
popcorn_pete on November 21, 2016 at 5:59 pm

Was due to be auctioned off on 5.11.15 but according to reports appeared to be unsold as of April 2016. Maybe the hefty €1.75 million price tag has put developers off! Pictures of how it looks inside these days are at: http://www.dailyedge.ie/rathmines-stella-cinema-2682126-Mar2016/

x19dude
x19dude on February 6, 2017 at 11:41 am

Currently being refurbished – Due to be reopened later this year as a single cinema screen luxurious cinema with cocktail bar and luxury seating!

x19dude
x19dude on February 6, 2017 at 11:44 am

http://www.thejournal.ie/screen-cinema-rathmines-3192039-Jan2017/

x19dude
x19dude on February 6, 2017 at 11:45 am

http://entertainment.ie/cinema/news/Stella-Cinema-in-Rathmines-is-being-restored-to-her-former-glory/389501.htm

x19dude
x19dude on October 25, 2017 at 5:41 am

Now fully restored to its original art deco beauty See articles and movie clip: This restoration definitely warrants an article on here

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/a-sneak-preview-inside-the-refurbished-stella-cinema-in-rathmines-1.3263333

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/table-service-cocktail-bar-and-beds-part-of-luxury-cinema-experience-at-restored-stella-theatre-in-rathmines-36238989.html

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