Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness Revive Historic Phoenix Cinema in Dingle

Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy and artist Yvonne McGuinness have secured planning permission to redevelop the Phoenix Cinema in Daingean Uí Chúis, County Kerry, Ireland, breathing modern life into a beloved cultural landmark. The couple purchased the cinema in November 2024, sparking optimism for its future Irish Examiner.

A Community Saved Cinema

The Phoenix Cinema, which first opened in 1919, served the west Kerry community for over a century before closing during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the O’Sullivan family announced their intention to sell the property in 2022, local residents feared the site would be lost to commercial or residential development. A grassroots campaign quickly emerged, dedicated to preserving the cinema’s role as a vital cultural hub. RTÉ reports the purchase by Murphy and McGuinness in November 2024 was hailed as a victory for the community.

Plans for a Creative Hub

The redevelopment, approved by Kerry County Council, will retain the cinema’s core function while adding a wealth of new facilities. Plans include a multi-disciplinary performance space, exhibition and rehearsal areas, a bar, café, and restaurant, as well as residential studios designed to accommodate artists. A redesigned courtyard will further enhance the venue’s appeal. The Irish Examiner details these plans.

Funding and Community Support

The project has already received a significant financial boost, securing €933,000 in funding from the Government’s Rural Regeneration Fund Irish Examiner. The planning application process involved extensive consultation with the local community, including public meetings and presentations held at the cinema itself. A significant number of letters in support of the project were submitted to the planning authority by individuals, many from the wider west Kerry arts community RTÉ.

A Personal Connection

Cillian Murphy has a long-standing connection to the west Kerry Gaeltacht, with his parents holidaying in the area for decades and he now spends extended periods there with his family. Speaking after the purchase, Murphy said he had been attending films at the Phoenix since childhood, noting that his father likewise enjoyed films there and that he has brought his own children to the cinema RTÉ. Yvonne McGuinness stated 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.

A History of Resilience

The Phoenix Cinema has overcome adversity in the past, having been destroyed by fire in both 1921 and 1938, but was rebuilt on both occasions by the Houlihan family, inspiring its name Irish Examiner. Over the decades, it became a social hub, hosting drama, concerts, dances, showbands, and performers including Rory Gallagher, and Dana.