The Solas Picture Palace arthouse cinema is finally under way, with site clearance and preparations for construction taking place on Lower Merchants Road.
Solas has become a controversial project due to the long delays in work starting on the building. However the cinema is finally going to become a reality following the appointment of Rhatigans towards the end of February, as the company to carry out building work.
The house at No 16 Lower Merchant's Road has been demolished, following agreement with the owners, and the site has been cleared.
The house will be rebuilt as part of the cinema building itself.
Rhatigans has appointed Quinn Piling of County Down as piling sub-contractor and Quinn Piling has been on site since the week before Easter.
A second piling rig will be mobilised to the site next Monday and work is progressing in accordance with the construction programme. The construction programme has a duration of 16 months. The builders will also be taking into account the requirements of the area during the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in July.
Labour city councillor Niall McNelis has welcomed the news that “the project is now underway again”.
“The Solas Picture Palace will be a great asset to the city,” he said. “It will show how important the arts are to Galway and it will be important to students in GMIT and NUIG who study film.
Visitors to our city and locals will have a real gem in this cinema.”
Cllr McNelis wished the Solas group “well and the project a speedy finish” so that in the near future “the hoarding can be taken down and the road opened up
