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Galway's cultural scene received a major boost on Monday night, as plans for a three-screen arthouse cinema were given the go ahead by city councillors.
While original designs were previously rejected by the chamber on the grounds that they were not in keeping with the area, the new proposals were unanimously adopted, with councillors welcoming this latest addition to the city's social scene. The complex, which will be located on Lower Merchants Road, will also include a bar, box office, book shop, public archive room and office space.
The building will consist of a three-storey block facing on to Lower Merchants Road, which will house the office space. The rear of the building will face onto Spanish Parade and will stand six storeys high, with 'more contemporary emphasis in its form and detailing'. The two buildings will be internally connected by a courtyard, which will not be open outside of operational hours.
The development, which has been described as a 'most exciting architectural addition' will also address the shortage of performance space in the city at present, with one of the cinema's theatres incorporating a stage and retractable screen.
Lelia Doolin, who is developing the new arthouse cinema with the Solas group, welcomed the news, saying it was a big step for the city.
"We are absolutely delighted with this decision. I would like to complement the city council, the city manager and the councillors for their crucial support and constant encouragement from the early stages of this development. This is an amazing first step in what will hopefully be a series of cultural buildings for the arts in the city," she said.
It is hoped that this new cinema, alongside further planned cultural developments, will put the city in a position to challenge for the title of European City of Culture in the future. Green Party councillor Niall O Brolcháin also supported the move, saying the cinema would provide a corner stone for the development of a cultural quarter in the Spanish Arch area.
"Galway's credentials as a city of culture are second to none. I am delighted that this is going to be further recognised by the development of a cultural quarter in Galway City. It is important that arts groups, community groups, local businesses and the general public would be given a real say in how the Cultural Quarter is developed.
"I believe that the potential of the area is enormous, if we can get things right. It is important that we get a look and feel to the area that we are all happy with and this can only be achieved by careful and considerate planning."
However reservations have been expressed by representatives of An Taisce, who said that the proposed development "would not represent the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and should be refused".
Speaking to the Galway Independent, Derrick Hambleton of An Taisce said that although they fully supported the idea of an arthouse cinema, they felt that it would be better suited to another area, such as the new Docklands development.
The heritage organisation slammed the destruction of an existing house to make way for the development, saying that they were merely paying "lip service" to the original house by retaining the stone archway. Concerns were also raised about the implications on traffic in the area, with calls for the council to implement traffic calming measures at the front of the building.
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