Clare county councillors have welcomed the recent consultation process on the future of the Mars Cinema in Kilrush. On Thursday of last week, private tourism consultancy Tourism Development International, in conjunction with Clare County Council and the Kilrush Town Team hosted a walk-in clinic at the Town Hall in Kilrush to discuss the future use of the old cinema building where they invited the people of Kilrush and West Clare to get involved.
Approximately 150 people attended the three-hour event to view the ideas boards and have their say on the future of the old cinema. Clare county councillor and Sinn Féin general election candidate, Donna McGettigan welcomed the consultation saying it is a unique development opportunity for the area, and she and the local party representative in Kilrush will do all they can to help maximise its potential.
“This is a very welcome development. My party colleague Dawn Bennett was very active on this issue during the local election campaign,” she 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.
“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.”
Clare County Councillor and Kilrush Town Team member Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) said the consultation was “excellent” with high numbers of people giving their feedback.
“The evening was excellently attended, and engaged consultation will put the finishing touches to a project that will be an excellent addition to West Clare,” said Cllr Lynch.
“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,” Cllr Lynch said.
Over ten years ago, Cllr Lynch met the then owner of the property to discuss possible uses. A number of local people met hoping to drive a number of proposals but it the site was out of their reach at that time. Over the next number of years, the Kilrush councillor approached the executive of Clare County Council making several proposals, and thereafter an opportunity came where the Council could purchase the derelict building.
After operating since 1950, the Mars Cinema on Frances Street closed its doors in 1991 before falling in to disrepair. Clare County Council bought the building in March of 2023 through Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding, and following a public tender process, the Council commissioned TDI to undertake a feasibility study of the former cinema buildings and lands which they commenced in January of this year. The study has examined market opportunities to develop a viable attraction or business at the site, for the benefit of the community based on market demand, ongoing town planning considerations and new area and town development initiatives. The Council has said it wants any future concept plan to be fully informed by the local economic context and the future public realm plans for Kilrush.
Sharon Dolan D’Arcy covers West Clare news. After completing a masters in journalism at University of Galway, Sharon worked as a court reporter at the Sligo Weekender. She was also editor of the Athenry News and Views.