The major transformation of the Phoenix Cinema in Daingean Uí Chúis has received the green light from Kerry County Council. The historic venue was acquired last November by actor Cillian Murphy and his wife, artist Yvonne McGuinness, who plan to maintain and expand the cultural hub with the aim of serving the wider community.
This Cillian Murphy Kerry cinema project seeks to preserve the building’s original purpose while introducing new facilities such as a performance space, exhibition areas, rehearsal rooms, a café, bar, restaurant, artist studios, and a redesigned outdoor courtyard, ensuring a diverse creative offering for the town.
Community Concerns and Support Shape the Redevelopment Plans
The Phoenix Cinema served west Kerry for over a century but closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. When the O’Sullivan family announced its sale in 2022, local residents feared the site might be converted into commercial or residential property, sparking a community campaign to protect its cultural significance.
Extensive consultations involving public meetings and presentations took place within the old cinema building to gather feedback. Despite strong backing from the local and wider west Kerry arts communities, some neighbors voiced worries about the redevelopment’s impact on nearby properties and the potential strain on parking availability in surrounding streets.
Ultimately, the planning permission was granted with 13 conditions, though it remains open to appeal at An Coimisiún Pleanála. The project has also been supported with nearly €1 million in funding from the Government’s Rural Regeneration Fund, reflecting the broader push to revive rural cultural spaces.
Deep Local Ties Behind the Cinema Resurrection
Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness have longstanding links with the west Kerry Gaeltacht. Murphy’s parents vacationed in the area for decades, and he now spends significant time there with his family. Reflecting on the cinema’s importance, Murphy commented,
“My dad saw movies there before me, and we’ve brought our own children there too. We recognise what the cinema means to Dingle.” – Cillian Murphy, Actor
McGuinness emphasized their vision to reopen the cinema while expanding its creative roles,
“The aim is to reopen the doors and broaden the venue’s creative potential, restoring its place at the heart of the town’s cultural life.” – Yvonne McGuinness, Artist
Historic Legacy of the Phoenix Cinema as a Cultural Landmark
The Phoenix Cinema has a resilient history, having been destroyed by fire twice—in 1921 and 1938—and rebuilt each time by the Houlihan family, whose legacy inspired the cinema’s name. Over many decades, the venue became a social center in west Kerry, hosting theatrical performances, concerts, dances, and later welcoming well-known musicians such as Rory Gallagher and Dana.
The cinema’s revival represents not only a preservation of a cherished building but also an effort to rejuvenate the artistic life of the community, aiming to provide a vibrant cultural hub for future generations.
