Council buys town’s old cinema
The former Rialto Cinema in Banba Square in Nenagh has been purchased by Tipperary County Council which views the old building as a key structure in its plans to transform that entire area into a fitting setting to show off the town's ‘historic core’.The council has plans to transform the square and says acquiring the old cinema building is central to its strategy
to give the area an attractive new look as the hub of the town's main tourism and cultural area.
The purchase of the cinema building, which operated as a hardware store run by the Sheahan family over four decades, became possible when the owners vacated the site to open a new modern hardware store at Martyr's Road last year.
The sale to the council came as somewhat of a surprise to Nenagh Municipal area councillors at their monthly meeting on Thursday last. Both the Cathaoirleach Councillor Séamus Morris and Councillor Hughie McGrath said there were rumours circulating in the town that the council had purchased the building and adjoining yard.
SALE CONCLUDED
Officially breaking the news of the acquisition, Area Manager Marcus O' Connor said the council had not been in a position to reveal its hand until the sale had been legally concluded, but confirmed that this had since occurred.
Mr O' Connor said the council was currently preparing a detailed application for funding to Government to maximise the potential of the town's historic core, of which the former cinema was a central part.
Addressing members on the meeting held through the online platform Zoom in a move to limit any chance of the spread of Covid-19 infection, Mr O' Connor said the council viewed its ownership of the old cinema as vital because there was a chance it could have ended up as a derelict building.
Continued on page 4
He said the council was preparing to make an application for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to upgrade the historic core, which included the old cinema site.
Cathaoirleach Seamus Morris said it was vital that the council form a vision for what it wanted to do with the building, which he understood was a protected structure.
He welcomed the news and added that investment in the town was at an all time high. "The amount of money coming to Nenagh at the moment is mind-blowing."
Mr O' Connor said the council were only able to move on acquiring the old cinema when it came on the market. Instead of sitting back they saw its purchase as an opportunity to improve the town.
HISTORIC QUARTER
Banba Square, along with the adjacent historical castle, courthouse and former gaol were all part of the application that would be made to the Government to maximise the potential of what was the historic core of the urban area.
The cinema would form part of that precinct, and it was also planned to open a tourist office in the square and put down new paving in the area.
Mr O' Connor said that only the facade of the cinema was classed as a protected structure, not the entire building.
Councillor Morris said the council would have to put a business plan in place and determine what future use the cinema would have.
Said Councillor Morris: "I appreciate it all had to be done under the radar when you are buying something, but the people will be asking us what are you going to use the cinema for."
Councillor Ger Darcy (FG) said it was "an iconic building" and people would be very interested to find out what use the council was going to have for it.