New Corrib Cinema to Cost £18,000

The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, September 9, 1933

Mr. Walter McNally's New Venture

Plans have been completed and passed by the Galway Urban District Council for the new cinema to be built at Eglinton—street, Galway, by Mr. Walter McNally, the famous baritone. The building will be beautiful and imposing, designed in the most up—to—date lines. The Theatre will have seating capacity for over 800 on the ground floor, while the gallery will be capable of accommodating over 300.

Mr. W. A. McNally

There will be four shops on the frontage to Eglinton—street, and the main entrance will be from this street. There will be a spacious foyer on the ground floor, with a staircase leading to the balcony and tea lounge on the first floor. Ample and luxurious cloakroom accommodation is provided. Exits will be provided, in accordance with modern regulations, at the end and both sides of the theatre, and there will be a separate emergency exit from the gallery, with a reinforced concrete staircase.

Plan of new Corrib cinema.

The cinema will be ventilated and heated on the "Phenum" system, i.e., the air will be washed, scented, heated or cooled as required, and forced into the building under pressure at one end and drawn out at the opposite end. The building will be constructed in the modern method, with a steel frame. The external portion of the main cinema building will be covered with corrugated asbestos, and the front portion will be finished in white cement. The shop fronts will be formed with bronze sashes, and the piers and surrounds to the entrance to the theatre will be finished in glazed terracotta.

The inside walls and ceiling of the theatre will be covered with patent "Insulite" boarding, and will be painted with scenery, to give an atmospheric effect, on the lines of the palatial cinemas of the modern metropolis. The architects for the new building are John J. Rovinson, M.Arch., F.R.I.A.I., F.R.I.B.A., and R.C. Keefe, M.R.I.A.I. of 8, Merrion Square, Dublin. It will be remembered that Mr. Robinson was given a Doctorate of the N.U.I. last year for his services as architect to the famous Eucharistic Congress of 1932.

The architects are at present busy preparing quantities, etc., for the new building. Where possible, Mr. McNally is anxious to use Irish materials and he hopes the contract, when up for tender, will be secured by a Galway contractor. The estimated cost of the building is £18,000.