Galway’s Pálás Cinema to close with operating losses of more than €1.8m

Part of the Light House Cinema Group, Pálás, says that "regrettably, no viable alternative funding solution has been identified at this time and this leaves us with no option but to close the doors"

Pálás Cinema. Pictures: Pálás

The Pálás Cinema in Galway city is to permanently close its doors in February next year amid financial difficulties.

The decision to close the three-screen cinema follows months of engagement by the Pálás team with Galway City Council, The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Western Development Commission and Screen Ireland as all stakeholders worked together to try to save the cinema.

Part of the Light House Cinema Group, Pálás is located in the Latin quarter in Galway city, and was described as “more than just a cinema” in a social media statement on Tuesday.

“To many, Pálás is more than just a cinema and we have loved being a part of the community. We are so proud of our incredible team, the partnerships we have forged and the loyal audience we have fostered for Irish, arthouse and independent films in Galway,” the statement read.

It is with deep regret that after seven years of trading, Pálás will be closing its doors at the end of February 2025.

To many, Pálás is more than just a cinema and we have loved being a part of the community. pic.twitter.com/fytPdJeWaW

— Pálás Cinema (@PalasGalway) December 18, 2024

The Light House Cinema Group invested €1.5m in Pálás Cinema in 2018 with the objective of giving the people of Galway, and surrounding areas, access to an arthouse cinema and cultural space where independent films and a variety of events could be enjoyed.

Pálás has brought 3,000 independent films to Galway audiences, has hosted festival events, Q&As, local school screenings, and supported local filmmakers and artists.

Since the original €1.5m investment, the cinema it has incurred operating losses of more than €1.8m and is now at the point where it is incurring losses of roughly €250,000 per annum to keep the doors open.

Part of the Light House Cinema Group, Pálás cinema is located in the Latin quarter in Galway city. Pictures: Pálás

Rising costs, the impact of covid and the oversaturation of commercial cinemas in the Galway area have all contributed to the situation that is faced today.

The statement noted that the rising costs and the oversaturation of the cinema market in Galway has made continued trading unviable — but that "the Pálás team intends to continue to provide the best possible film-going experience until the end of February".

Cinema-goers in Galway city will be hopeful that Pálás may be saved like the Phoenix Cinema in Tralee, which was bought by Cork actor Cillian Murphy and his wife and artist Yvonne McGuinness.

The Kerry cinema was one of the last family-run cinemas in the country when it closed during the covid-19 pandemic and restoration work is due to start in the new year.