Town Hall Theatre, Galway

The Town Hall Theatre is a prominent cultural hub in Galway. It is the municipal theatre that hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including theatre, music, comedy, dance, film, literary, family, and community events. The theatre features a state-of-the-art auditorium with a seating capacity of 400.

The building that houses the Town Hall Theatre has a rich history. It was constructed in the 1820s and initially served as a courthouse and later as a town hall. In the 1950s, the building was converted into a cinema and used for film screenings until it fell into disrepair in the 1990s.

Fortunately, with the assistance of a grant from the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Galway Corporation (now Galway City Council) undertook a major refurbishment of the building between 1993-95.

After the renovation, the building reopened as a state-of-the-art, 393-seat Municipal Theatre on October 14th, 1995, with the Patrician Musical Society's production of "Chess." Since then, the venue has attracted over 100,000 audiences annually, making it the most successful theatre of its size in Ireland. To date, it has welcomed close to 2 million visitors since its official reopening on February 1st, 1996.

In addition to its regular events, the Town Hall Theatre is also used as a venue for several festivals each year, including the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, Galway International Arts Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, and others.

During the Cúirt festival, Charlie Byrne's pop-up bookshop operates within the theatre, offering visitors the chance to browse and purchase books.

Overall, the Town Hall Theatre is an essential cultural landmark in Galway, offering a diverse range of events to entertain and engage audiences of all ages and interests. Its rich history, state-of-the-art facilities, and impressive visitor numbers make it an essential part of Galway's cultural scene.