Cinemas outside Dublin /

1- the bigger cities, Cork and Limerick.

Art Deco Ireland, former Savoy cinema, street facade, Cork city Savoy Cork, May 1998 - this original sign has since been altered.

The Savoy in Cork, closed and was adapted for use as a shopping arcade in 1976. It has a jazzy facade, which still remains but the interior was originally atmospheric in style. The relatively narrow street front on Patrick Street formed a long entrance hall into a cinema which had over 2,000 seats. That was a large cinema for a relatively small city. The architects were Moore & Crabtree of Bradford, England and the Savoy Cork was built in 1931/32. Sixty staff served the cinema and cafe. Opening on 11 May 1932, it had an audience of 2,262 present for the opening night.

  • Update September 2000. The developer has re-roofed the building and opened a 1,000 seat theatre / dance venue, on the first and second floors, with shops on the ground level. The 15,000 sq ft facility seems to be mainly used as a dance venue.

    Savoy Cinema, Cork, view of Building from across Patrick Street from Art Deco Ireland

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    The Savoy Limerick opened in 1936 with almost 1,500 seats. Again the exterior was in a moderne style and the interior was in an atmospheric style. This is the Savoy Limerick in the early years. The cinema was redeveloped, with a multiplex on the site of the Savoy since 1990 using the Savoy name. July 2005 - the new multiplex was itself demolished and it has been replaced. Limerick now has no city centre cinemas.

    Original Savoy cinema Limerick, facade,from Art Deco Ireland Savoy Limerick, c1936.

    Both the Cork and Limerick Savoy Cinemas had extensive stage facilities to accomodate touring shows. In the early days the operators, Irish Cinemas, later a part of the British J Arthur Rank cinema empire, ran variety shows in addition to movies. Both had cinema organs and both cinemas originally had extensive catering operations. The Compton Organ from the Savoy, Cork is now in the University of Limerick.

    More about the exciting opening night of the Savoy, Limerick

    More cinemas in the Republic 1 - the Ritz, Athlone

    More cinemas in the Republic - Savoy Waterford

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