Tipperary councils back campaign to save theatre in Clonmel

The campaign to save the Regal Theatre in Clonmel has been boosted by the decision of two local authorities to support a purchase…

The campaign to save the Regal Theatre in Clonmel has been boosted by the decision of two local authorities to support a purchase of the venue.

The future of the theatre, which has served the town for more than 70 years, is not yet assured, however, and depends on private as well as public financial support. The theatre, currently for sale, is in a prime development location near the town centre.

A committee - called SORT (Save Our Regal Theatre) - set up to try to save the facility says it is "hugely heartened" by the public support for its campaign and has collected more than 2,000 signatures to date. Further promotional plans include window displays and a schools' art competition.

Committee members had a meeting recently with the county manager, Mr Ned Gleeson, and senior officials, at which the decision of Tipperary South County Council and Clonmel Corporation to back the venue's purchase was conveyed.

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Mr Gleeson told the committee the two authorities supported its objective of establishing a municipal theatre. Financial backing for a purchase, however, was conditional on forming a legal entity and raising part of the asking price from the local community.

He said funding models such as the Dunamaise Theatre in Portlaoise and the Excel Centre in Tipperary town were examples which could be applied to the future of the Regal.

Mr Pat Fleming, chairman of SORT, said the group was pleased with the "positive air" of the meeting, although a little disappointed it had not produced "a more immediately positive outcome".

"We are now working at putting a specific financial plan in place, which we hope to bring back to the county manager and, with his support, approach financial institutions." Local fundraising was an issue to be addressed, "but in the first instance we will have to see if a price can be agreed with the vendor and if the other requirements can fall into place. It is a complex task but all the SORT committee members are determined to make it work."

The owner of the building, Mr Larry O'Keeffe, has expressed a preference for its continuation as a theatre, but said if this could not be achieved he would sell it for development as offices and apartments. The 850-seat venue was valued at £900,000 as part of a feasibility study last year, but Mr O'Keeffe believes it could fetch more than £1 million on the open market.

Mr Phelim Donlon, the Arts Council's director of auditoria, attended a public meeting last month at which the campaign to save the theatre was launched. He expressed concern that Clonmel was apparently prepared to let such a facility go when so many towns were attempting to establish one.

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Readers who wish to contact Chris Dooley can leave messages by dialling 01-6707711, extension 6298; e-mail address: cdooley@irish-times.ie