Plans for a major redevelopment of the Phoenix Cinema in Dingle have been given the go-ahead by Kerry County Council.
The historic cinema was bought in 2024 by visual artist Yvonne McGuinness, and her husband, Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy.
The team behind the redevelopment held several public meetings to outline their vision for the redevelopment, prior to seeking planning permission.
A ‘picture house’ first opened on this site back in 1919, making it one of the earliest cinemas outside Dublin, but it was completely destroyed by a fire in 1921.
Remarkably, having been rebuilt, the new building was also destroyed by a fire in 1938.
A third iteration of the cinema became highly successful, even branching out to host dances and showband tours in the middle of the 20th century.
The Phoenix Cinema closed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but the initial temporary closure became permanent, until the purchase by Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy and his wife, visual artist Yvonne McGuinness.
The new cinema will feature an expanded, on-street reception and hospitality area, while there will be a new black box space behind it which will be multi-purpose.
There will also be artists’ studios, a gallery, and shop, as well as an education and workshop area.
It will also include a foyer, shop, bar, and food areas, envisaged as a living room for the town, while it will be centred around a courtyard with over 2,000-square-metres of floor space.
The site backs on to the river at The Mall, while a second entrance at the side on Avondale will complement the main entrance on Dykegate Street.
Planning was granted subject to 13 conditions.
