End of an era in Ballyhaunis

End of era as old Star Cinema comes tumbling down


Michael Commins

IT was where some folks first saw John Wayne as he strolled across the silver screen, the place where the ‘Old West’ came alive. Hollywood came to the Star Cinema at Clare Road, Ballyhaunis and brought with it many of the classics from the golden era. The Sound of Music, Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, and so many more all found willing audiences in the days gone by.
Last week, the last lorry-load of broken concrete and rubble was removed from the scene as demolition work on the cinema came to an end.
There was something lonesome and nostalgic in the air for the people of the street and those who frequented the Star Cinema in former times. A time perhaps to ride off into the sunset.
It opened for business back in 1948. Construction of the cinema began in 1945 when the foundation was laid. A company of men all the way from Scotland erected the iron framework. The massive concrete walls and asbestos roof were built by local men, led by contractor Bernie Byrne.
The cinema was founded by local man Paddy McGarry and his son Gerry took over the mantle in later years. It attracted a clientele from over a wide area with people from Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Sligo lending their patronage.
Tommy Jordan of Knox Street spent many years as chief projectionist at the Star Cinema. After some major redevelopment work in 1975 when the place became a ‘twin-cinema’, Martin Kirrane from Tooreen began a long association with the premises, also as a projectionist.
Others who had strong connections with the cinema from the mid-1970s onwards included Mike Griffin from Clare Road (who worked there for 21 years), Michael Joe Morley from Lissiniskea and Michael Brennan from Lisduff. Ann Madden and Kay Buckley were employed in the ticket office while John Kilduff and Tommy Jordan Jnr also worked at the cinema. Many will also recall Eddie Murphy’s sweet shop before he branched out into the clothing business.
Sinead Freyne from Clare Road says the demolition of the Star Cinema is truly the end of an era. “It was the place where we spent many magical nights at the movies. As the iconic facade of the once bustling Star Cinema came tumbling down last week, we were still left with some great memories of a place that was so much a part of our childhood years. It had a special place in the hearts of so many people around the Ballyhaunis area.”