Planning permission granted for Kerry cinema purchased by Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness

Kerry County Council has approved planning for a significant renovation of an old Kerry cinema, purchased by Cillian Murphy and his wife, artist Yvonne McGuinness.

In addition to rebuilding the cinema, the plans for the Phoenix cinema in Daingean Uí Chúis, Kerry, call for the construction of facilities, exhibition spaces, and artist residences.

The Phoenix cinema first opened its doors in 1919, but it was destroyed by fire twice, in 1921 and 1938. The cinema was successfully rebuilt by the Houlihan family, and its revival from the ashes served as the inspiration for its new name.

During the following decades the Phoenix became the social hub of the town, hosting drama, concerts and dances, as well as screening films.

Under the ownership of the Moore family, the Phoenix became a popular venue for the showbands of the 1950s and 1960s and in later years, the venue hosted acts including Rory Gallagher and Dana.

In 2022, the O'Sullivan family revealed that they would be selling the cinema due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen many businesses closing their doors.

A local campaign to save the Phoenix was started out of concern that the site might be designated as an alternative for residential and commercial development.

In November 2024, it was revealed that Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness had bought the cinema.

The planning application came after extensive community consultation, which included a number of public meetings and presentations held in the former theatre.

The Government Rural Regeneration Fund (RRF) has already awarded €933,000 in grant funding for the proposed project.

The planning authority received a sizable number of letters endorsing the project from people, many of whom were from the larger west Kerry arts community.

However, a number of submissions highlighted the concerns of residents whose properties are adjoining the site. Concerns were also raised in relation to the pressure the new development will put on parking on the nearby streets. There are 13 conditions attached to the planning permission that Kerry County Council granted today.

Cillian Murphy is well known in the West Kerry Gaeltacht, with the parents of the Oscar-winning actor having visited the region for years. Murphy now spends extensive periods of time in the area with his own family.

"I’ve been going to see films at The Phoenix since I was a young boy on summer holidays," said Murphy

"My dad saw movies there when he was a young man before me, and we’ve watched many films at the Phoenix with our own kids. We recognise what the cinema means to Dingle."