Has your town got A GOOD CINEMA ?..

Paddy20

In my home town of Ballybofey, we had 'The Ritz Cinema'. Yet when I came home for good in 1987 it was closed. We now have an excellent theatre called The Balor Theatre making use of part of this unique art-deco building.

I am concerned about the future of this building as IMHO it should be preserved.

Have you got a Cinema. If not would you like one ?..

P. :cool:

Goodshape

Saint Mary's Hall, Buncrana - with glorious stereo sound.

Also does Bingo.

No, it's not a good cinema. It would be barely passable if it were showing art-house or smaller independent films, only they insist on getting in whatever blockbuster tosh is on the way out of the multiplex - for which they're totally unsuited.

Paddy20

Goodshape wrote:

Saint Mary's Hall, Buncrana - with glorious stereo sound.

Also does Bingo.

No, it's not a good cinema. It would be barely passable if it were showing art-house or smaller independent films, only they insist on getting in whatever blockbuster tosh is on the way out of the multiplex - for which they're totally unsuited.

I remember St Mary's hall . I used to spend holidays in Buncrana when my sister & hubbie owned 'The Brass Rail Bar' on the main street for around 35 years .

Sounds as though you could do with a modern custom built cinema, same as Ballybofey.

I wonder how many towns/communities are in the same boat, and why ?..

P.:cool:

smashey

We have a good cinema here in Lifford. There was a slight problem with uncomfortable seating but they changed them all last year. They also have planning permission to add another two screens bringing us up to six.

Paddy20

smashey wrote:

We have a good cinema here in Lifford. There was a slight problem with uncomfortable seating but they changed them all last year. They also have planning permission to add another two screens bringing us up to six.

When I was aged about 14 Lifford had a small cinema a few doors away from my Uncle's fish & chipper> remember the last film I saw there was 'The Nun's Story'.

At that time there was also a very large cinema in Strabane, where the back row was where you sat if you were in luck . Now long closed as well.

P. :cool:

Goodshape

Derry isn't too far from us, although I don't rate the Strand Multiplex too highly either - I'd say it's adequate. Letterkenny is always a bit more difficult to get to / from, I've heard the cinema there is a big improvement.

I'd actually like to see St. Mary's Hall show more (or any) art-house / independent films, it could turn a dreadful cinema into an attractive alternative to the multiplex.

Paddy20

Goodshape wrote:

Derry isn't too far from us, although I don't rate the Strand Multiplex too highly either - I'd say it's adequate. Letterkenny is always a bit more difficult to get to / from, I've heard the cinema there is a big improvement.

I'd actually like to see St. Mary's Hall show more (or any) art-house / independent films, it could turn a dreadful cinema into an attractive alternative to the multiplex.

IMHO we should have a cinema in each community catering for both mainstream plus art-house/independent productions.

Can anyone explaiin, why we are being deprived of such facilitie's ?..

P. :cool:

irish1967

Excellent cinema (6 screens) in Bundoran. Not a bad one in Ballyshannon either

smashey

Paddy20 wrote:

When I was aged about 14 Lifford had a small cinema a few doors away from my Uncle's fish & chipper> remember the last film I saw there was 'The Nun's Story'.

At that time there was also a very large cinema in Strabane, where the back row was where you sat if you were in luck . Now long closed as well.

P. :cool:

I'll let you in on a secret here Paddy. My grandfather was the manager in that cinema in Lifford.

Carrickman

Used to be a cinema in Carrick well before my time it closed in the 60's the building is still there (before you come into the town at the bridge) it was used as a garage up to about 6 years ago it is now a Antigue Shop. The nearest one then was in Killybegs and that closed in the early 80's (?), then it was Donegal and that is now closed so anyone from the area who want's to go to the Cinema Bundoran is the closest.

Gillie

12 screens in Sligo.
Fine Cinema but filthy tbh.

I rarely go in.

jimmycrackcorm

Paddy20 wrote:

IMHO we should have a cinema in each community catering for both mainstream plus art-house/independent productions.

Can anyone explaiin, why we are being deprived of such facilitie's ?..

P. :cool:

Cinema attendance has been hit by DVD / the internet et al. It just wouldn't justify the cost in investment to have a cinema in each community. It's a bit like saying that each community should have it's own hospital - a nice idea but financially unsound.

Star Lord

Moville used to have a single screen cinema way back, which was closed, then knocked down, then used by the co-op, then turned into what is now the Town Clock.

Now when I'm home and fancy the cinema it's a 20 mile trip to Derry to the barely adequate Strand Cinema.

muffler

Have to agree with jimmycrackcorm on this one. A cinema is a business and unless its making money it will close. As was said already the DVD scene and going back a good few years, the video tapes ensured the demise of the cinemas in the low populated areas in particular.

Cant say I would miss the cinema as I never go to near them but there are a lot of people who do and its a little amenity that has gradually eroded away down the years

jimmycrackcorm

If you have a suitable room at your home, it would be hard to beat a DLP projector on a white wall and a good surround sound system. You can serve your self beer and parking is no problem. The equipment would quickly be paid off by the huge savings in microwave popcorn and Lidl cola. And if you have a recliner armchair then you've got the best seating too.

magnumlady

Gillie wrote:

12 screens in Sligo.
Fine Cinema but filthy tbh.

I rarely go in.

I take the kids there a fair bit, it is really minging though, your feet get stuck to the floor (yuck!)

Gillie

magnumlady wrote:

I take the kids there a fair bit, it is really minging though, your feet get stuck to the floor (yuck!)

I know it's terrible isn't it.
The real reason i don't go is because of ppl talking/messing during a movie.
Really pi$$es me off.
Why pay up to €8.50 to go and see a movie if your going to talk through it.

magnumlady

Gillie wrote:

I know it's terrible isn't it.
The real reason i don't go is because of ppl talking/messing during a movie.
Really pi$$es me off.
Why pay up to €8.50 to go and see a movie if your going to talk through it.

I don't get people that do that, or the ones that are up and down every few minutes to the loo or to get food. Or the people that bring little kids in to see a totally unsuitable film and then the kids run riot all through the film.
What was the old cinema like in Sligo?
I see they were building one in Carrick on Shannon, not sure if its open yet though.

byte

Carrickman wrote:

Used to be a cinema in Carrick well before my time it closed in the 60's the building is still there (before you come into the town at the bridge) it was used as a garage up to about 6 years ago it is now a Antigue Shop. The nearest one then was in Killybegs and that closed in the early 80's (?), then it was Donegal and that is now closed so anyone from the area who want's to go to the Cinema Bundoran is the closest.

Didn't realise that place in Carrick was once a cinema!

Being a Ballintra native, I used to go to Donegal Town when I was younger, but that's of course closed now. Also used to go to Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon which is fine, and Bundoran Cineplex is quite good.

Now in Letterkenny, and Century Cinemas is very good I think.

I have never been to the Lifford Strabane Cineplex.

I think Donegal Town could do with a cinema, which could also cater for those in the Killybegs and Carrick areas. Though, like every other notion of building in Donegal Town, it'll probably never happen (Was Michael Kelly's site behind the carpark to include a cinema?)

SOLID-SLUG,

I think if Donegal County Council or even a private company started a mobile cinema that had up to-date film"s, it would be kept busy in the town"s that don"t have good cinema access, eg. Ballybofey, Convoy, Carrick, and Glenties, after all if Leitrim can run one, Donegal could at least run two?? ps.... If you dont know already, Leitrim Co.Co, run a moblie cinema, which is in a state of the art, artic, lorry, 05 LM, aprox, 80 seats? and visits every village in the county, of which details are posted in Shop windows and local press, What do you think???????

Gillie

magnumlady wrote:

I don't get people that do that, or the ones that are up and down every few minutes to the loo or to get food. Or the people that bring little kids in to see a totally unsuitable film and then the kids run riot all through the film.
What was the old cinema like in Sligo?
I see they were building one in Carrick on Shannon, not sure if its open yet though.

I loved the old Cinema in Sligo. But then again I was a lot younger then. It had more of a feel to it.

The Carrick one is open. Behind Supermacs. 2 or 4 screens I think.

magnumlady

Gillie wrote:

I loved the old Cinema in Sligo. But then again I was a lot younger then. It had more of a feel to it.

The Carrick one is open. Behind Supermacs. 2 or 4 screens I think.

Must check out that one,might be cleaner then Sligo.

Madge

magnumlady wrote:

What was the old cinema like in Sligo?

It was really nice, it had french doors and pink wallpaper with swirls on it. There was steps going up to the screens... I remember when it was only 2 pound 50 to get in aswell!

muffler

Madge wrote:

I remember when it was only 2 pound 50 to get in aswell!

You're older than you look

Madge

muffler wrote:

You're older than you look

Oi you! No it was only 10 yrs ago when it was that price and I was a kid then..

Gillie

Madge wrote:

It was really nice, it had french doors and pink wallpaper with swirls on it. There was steps going up to the screens... I remember when it was only 2 pound 50 to get in aswell!

And it looked like a Cinema should look.
Just thinking of all the movies I saw there growing up.
:cool:

il gatto

Yeah. I loved the old cinema in Sligo. I often thought it should have been preserved and a new one built elsewhere. I've happy memories of hanging around the door at the top of the steps, waiting for friends with the sun setting off to the west (you could see because the cinema was on a hill and was open at the sides). Had a real magic which the new one doesn't.
The new cinema is really grubby though. It's a first class facility, but needs to get it's act together with regards to cleaning and ushering. Get a few boucers. If your barred for talking, making and taking phone calls, going walkabouts and throwing stuff, you should be barred.

nanook

ah but guys, you all seem to forget that there used to be 2 cinemas in sligo. There was the one on wine st, now the 12 screen sticky floor place, and then there was the savoy (or somthing like that) on high st just below the friary.

Never been to it as it closed when i was young but i do remember it.

Gillie

nanook wrote:

ah but guys, you all seem to forget that there used to be 2 cinemas in sligo. There was the one on wine st, now the 12 screen sticky floor place, and then there was the savoy (or somthing like that) on high st just below the friary.

Never been to it as it closed when i was young but i do remember it.

WAAAAY before my time too!

Biro

magnumlady wrote:

Must check out that one,might be cleaner then Sligo.

Tis alright... well, it being brand new helps! Should last at least 6 months being clean!!
It's actually very nice, comfortable seats, the lot! And they had Casino Royale on the Thursday (premier night), when Sligo didn't! (Usually Sligo is good for premier's).

magnumlady

nanook wrote:

ah but guys, you all seem to forget that there used to be 2 cinemas in sligo. There was the one on wine st, now the 12 screen sticky floor place, and then there was the savoy (or somthing like that) on high st just below the friary.

Never been to it as it closed when i was young but i do remember it.

Oh I remember that one, not as a cinema but it used to be a furniture shop or something.