Fennell Communications Releases

- Project is prime example of social enterprise at work in the community

Speaking during the Gala opening of the Art Deco in Ballymote, Chairperson of the Ballymote Enterprise Company, Minister John Perry T.D. said, "Tonight’s opening of the Art Deco is very much a case of back to the future.  From 1948 to tonight in 2012, from a glorious past to a very bright future, this magnificent facility will once again echo the sounds of the biggest and brightest talents, from cinema, theatre and music."

The Art Deco Cinema / Theatre in Ballymote will open its doors for the first time this evening in 37 years.  When it closed in 1975 it was known as The Abbey and was famous for playing host to a variety of stars from stage and screen.

Officially opening the Art Deco Minister Perry said, "This project is a prime example of communities working for themselves and social enterprise at work in the community. As Chairperson of Ballymote Enterprise Company, it makes me very proud to see the painstaking work that has gone into this project finally come to fruition tonight.

"The facility will, for the first time in 37 years, once again echo the sounds of world renowned musical talent. I am very proud to have been part of this project and I am very happy that the people of Ballymote and the surrounding region will have an entertainment venue of international class which will be one of the finest and most unique facilities in the country.

"We are fortunate to have some of the greatest talent in the country for tonight’s gala opening, including:

• The Renowned Garda Band

• Sligo’s Own Pianist Kieran Quinn

• World famous Violinist Steve Wickham,

• Soprano, Dara MacMahon

• The young Sligo talent and baritone, West Roberts and;

• The famous Sligo Tenor voice, from the Celtic Tenors, James Nelson

"This theatre facility is one of very few Art Deco ever built in the country and is one of the only buildings in this country of this style remaining.

"The building has been refurbished in full keeping with its original art deco charm, and yet it is state of the art in its features. It will boast a fully 3D Digital Cinema, with live streaming of shows from Broadway and the West End."

The Abbey screened all the big movies of the time including iconic pictures, including, the very first film ever screened there, The Home Stretch starring the legendary Maureen O’Hara.

It also featured many of the great actors and comedians of that era, playing host to greats like Maureen Potter and Jimmy O’Dea

The Abbey was built in the unique Art Deco style; a design style which began in Paris in the 1920’s and continued into the World War Two era. It was a lavish design style, which was associated with elegance and glamour and is a feature of many iconic building the world over.

ENDS