City arthouse cinema to officially open this evening

Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Pálás arthouse cinema in the city is set to officially open this evening. Although the venue has been open to the public for a number of months, the ribbon is being cut on the long-awaited building today. It's been a bumpy road for the project, which has been surrounded in controversy since it's inception around a decade ago. It suffered multiple delays and setbacks due to various circumstances including funding and governance issues. In the end, the cinema cost just over €9 million – some 50 percent higher than the original estimate of less than €5 million – most of which was public funding. The seven story cinema, which includes 3 screens, a bar and a restaurant, is now run by Element Pictures who took over management in late 2016. A special event to officially open the building will take place at the Pálás Cinema this evening at 6.30. FYI Galway will have a special feature on this well known building from 5 this evening, in advance of the official opening…