“Invest in the people.” – A final plea for Pálás cinema.

The short sidewalks outside of Galway’s arthouse cinema, Pálás, brimmed with people in their last protest to save the theatre before its closure this past Saturday. The Light House Group has confirmed that it will cease operations on Thursday, February 27th, in a statement posted on the website with information on the intentional final showing lineup at the cinema.

This comes following the official announcement of the closure in December and after much pushback from community groups like CATU and the Save Pálás Campaign. Conor Burke, the leader of the campaign and a common voice heard on the issue, recently posted a video on Instagram responding to an interview with Mayor Peter Keane, where the mayor states that the cinema must be “commercially viable” to keep it running. The City Council is expecting a commercial appraisal report shortly to inspect the viability, but Burke calls the report a “tactic” by party members to stave off an official answer on keeping the doors open.

Jack, who has attended all the protests and conducted this interview with the mayor weeks prior, said “If we see everything as something that has to be for profit it is inevitably going to be the end of art… art isn’t inherently profitable.”

“Keep what is one of the few places left for the community open – for the community.”

An international student, Kari, shared with us the value of a community space like this for people in minority groups. As part of the disabled and queer community herself she says that groups “would be in a very dark place and would have stayed in a very dark place” if it wasn’t for spaces like Palas.

The 14 employees of the cinema have been offered positions in the Light House Group in Dublin, but none have accepted. We have not been able to get a statement from them.

In an email sent by the company on February 24, loyalty cardholder ticket prices will increase by 2 euros, and the points system for free rewards has been recalibrated and increased. This was effective February 20.

As people, and the occasional protesting pet, gathered up the stairs, on the sidewalks, and through the outdoor foyer of the building, revitalizing chants from demonstrations past, cars honked, and the last fight to keep the cinema alive was still as active as ever. The community waits with bated breath to see if Pálás has a last-minute saviour, and if not, then the cinema will close its doors for good.

Unique showings on theme with the value of cinema and art will be playing leading up to Thursday, as well as other movies that are available.