"GALWAY'S 19th century town hall, restored to a semblance of its original neo classical state, was officially opened as a municipal theatre last night with a new play staged by the city's Druid company
The opening was performed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, and the Mayor of Galway, Mr Micheal O hUiginn. The Druid company celebrating its 21st birthday this year presented the Beauty Queen of Leenane, the of Martin McDonagh, a 5 year old writer who lives in London and whose parents are from Connemara.
The theatre at the bottom of st Francis Street is part of the development of Courthouse Square that includes the restoration of the courthouse directly opposite.
The courthouse, designed by Sir Richard Morrison, was built in 1815 and the town hall, which also may have been designed by Morrison, went up 15 years later. More recently the building had been a cinema but had fallen into disrepair.
Every precaution was taken to retain the building's original appearance, particularly the entrance portico with its Doric columns. The Town Hall Theatre is part of a £2.3 million programme that also will see the completion of a "black box" performance space on the Headford Road nearby.