Town Hall Theatre (Galway) facts for kids
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Amharclann Halla na Cathrach
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Town Hall Theatre
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 Town Hall Theatre
Location in County Galway
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| Location | 1 Courthouse Square, Galway, Republic of Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 53°16′34″N 9°03′14″W / 53.276177°N 9.053985°W |
| Public transit | Galway railway station |
| Capacity | 393 (Main Auditorium) 52 (Studio Space) |
| Opened | October 1995 |
The Town Hall Theatre (which is called Amharclann Halla na Cathrach in Irish) is a popular theatre located in Galway, Ireland. It's a busy place where people can watch plays, concerts, and other exciting shows. This building has a long and interesting history, changing its purpose many times over the years.
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The Theatre's Story: A Look Back
The building that is now the Town Hall Theatre was first built as a courthouse for the town of Galway. This was back in 1825. It was designed by an architect named Alexander Hay. He used a style called neoclassical, which means it looked like old Greek and Roman buildings. It was made from large, cut stones.
From Courthouse to Town Hall
After being a courthouse, the building became the town hall for the Galway Corporation. The "Corporation" was like the local government for Galway back then. They used the building for meetings and offices. Later, this old government group changed, and the building was used less for official business.
A Cinema and Then a Theatre
In the 1950s, the building got a new life as a cinema. Many people came to watch films there for years. However, by the 1990s, the building started to get old and needed a lot of repairs.
So, between 1993 and 1995, the building went through a big makeover. The local government, now called Galway City Council, helped pay for this. They got money from the government department that supports arts and culture. In October 1995, the building reopened as a modern theatre for everyone to enjoy.
The Town Hall Theatre Today
Today, the Town Hall Theatre is very successful. More than 100,000 people visit it every year! That's almost 2 million visitors since it officially reopened in 1996. This makes it one of the most popular theatres of its size in all of Ireland.
The theatre is a key spot for many annual events and festivals. For example, it hosts parts of the Cúirt International Festival of Literature every April. This festival celebrates books and writers. It's also a major venue for the Galway International Arts Festival each July, which brings amazing performances and art to the city.
During the Cúirt Literature Festival, a local shop called Charlie Byrne's Bookshop even sets up a special "pop-up" bookshop right inside the theatre. This lets visitors browse and buy books related to the festival.
