OVER 150 people attended a public consultation event in Kilrush to discuss future uses of the former Mars Cinema in Kilrush.
On Thursday last, more than 150 people attended the event held by Tourism Development International in conjunction with Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Team at the Town Hall in Kilrush.
Established in 1950, Mars Cinema was designed by Patrick Tubridy, the Tubridy family previously operated another theatre called The Palace Theatre at John’s Street from 1920 to 1950 which showed the silent films of the day. The Mars itself with a 850 seater theatre with 600 seats in the ballroom and another 250 seats in the balcony. It was the home of the Kilrush Operatic Society from 1951 to 1966 and Kilrush Boxing Club used the building in the 1980s.
A 3,310 square foot building, the former cinema is located on Ireland’s second widest street. It closed its doors in 1991 and was acquired by Clare County Council for €175,000 in March 2023 through Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding.
Despite water and broadband issues in Kilrush last Thursday, the consultation was “excellent” according to Cllr Ian Lynch (IND). “It’s over ten years since I met the then owner of the property to discuss possible uses, we gathered a number of people together to drive a number of proposals but unfortunately at that time it was out of our reach. Over the next number of years I approached the executive of Clare County Council and made several proposals. An opportunity came where the Council could purchase the derelict building and with much delight Clare County Council were approved to purchase the cinema”.
He continued, “Kilrush Town Team, Charlie Glynn, Tomás Prendeville, John O Malley, Mags Cotter, Colette Browne and I have spent hours behind the scenes coming up with different approaches, making dozens of funding applications to try and make this project a reality”.
According to the Kilrush man, the consultation event “put the finishing touches to a project that will be an excellent addition to West Clare. This is however the beginning of the journey and we have quite a way to go yet. But we are confident that once the feasibility study is completed we will have an excellent project to bring to government to seek funding to turn it in to a reality”.
Shannon based Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said, “We believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide facilities for young people in Kilrush and West Clare, and at the same time, boost tourism in the town”.
A candidate in the upcoming General Election, she added, “Our hope is that it can incorporate a soft play area, laser quest or similar, bowling lanes or a smaller cinema, and a youth café. Such facilities are badly needed in the town and would draw tourists during the season, especially when the weather is not great. Dawn talked to people on the doors about this and they were very supportive of her ideas. When Dawn first told me about her vision for the cinema, I agreed completely and promised to help in any way I could so I’m glad it has progressed to this stage”.
She said she was “a bit concerned” that the consultation hadn’t taken place earlier in the year as originally planned. “There was talk that it had been cancelled, so I liaised with a municipal district official about it. Public input is essential so I’m delighted that the consultation process has taken place”.
