The cillian murphy cinema redevelopment in Dingle has been delayed after three separate appeals were lodged against Kerry County Council’s grant of permission for the project.
Why this ruling is an inflection point for the Phoenix site
Kerry County Council approved the proposal from Dingle Phoenix Projects CLG last month to retain a cinema on the site, add exhibition areas and provide residential spaces for artists. The site is the historic Phoenix cinema, which opened in 1919 and closed in 2021. The property was purchased in late 2024 by visual artist Yvonne McGuinness and her husband, the Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy, who has described personal ties to the venue.
Cillian Murphy Cinema: What opponents say
Three appellants have taken the council decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála. Dr Conor Brosnan, a GP at Dingle Medical Centre, supports refurbishment but raised concerns that the development could worsen parking availability and make access more difficult and less safe for patients, especially those with impaired mobility or feeling unwell; he asked that new parking spaces be provided for the artistic centre. Michael Nelligan objected on the grounds that the proposal is too large and would negatively affect the enjoyment of his adjoining property’s garden, citing loss of light and an inappropriate overall scale that should be reduced to protect right to light and garden privacy. A third appellant, Liam O’Keeffe of Longford Street, Killorglin, highlighted the apparent provision of only two housing units for artists and argued that more housing should be built on the site rather than gallery, shop or performance spaces.
What the council found and what happens next
The council’s planning inspector concluded that the proposal was not likely to significantly impact nearby residential amenities, while noting that one garden would see a reduction in sunlight for part of the year. An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to decide the appeal by the end of July. The appeals process has placed the redevelopment on hold pending that decision, leaving the future use of the Phoenix site and the balance between its cultural and residential elements unresolved for the moment.
