Public meeting hears of growing need for theatre in south Wicklow
The Wicklow PeopleA public meeting has heard about the growing need for a dedicated theatre in Arklow.
Chaired by Wicklow Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne, the meeting agreed to establish a core group with a focus of developing a theatre, performance and artistic space for the south Wicklow area.
Deputy Byrne, who has been heavily involved in arts and theatre organisations both in Gorey and nationally, pointed to Arklow's rich musical and drama heritage.
"A town the size of Arklow, especially as it is about to grow rapidly in the coming years, deserves to have such a community space. Since I was elected to represent this area, it is one of the issues most commonly raised with me."
He pointed to the planned government arts capital scheme as a potential future source of support but said he expects Wicklow County Council to also step up to the plate.
"As Arklow grows, it is critical that land is provided and that development levies are used to support the provision of a state-of-the-art venue."
For much of the 20th century, Arklow’s theatrical and cinematic life centred on venues like the Ormonde Cinema, which opened in 1947. Its closure in 2003 left a significant void in the town's cultural infrastructure, leading to long-standing public calls for a replacement facility.
Frustrated by the lack of a formal venue, local artists and musicians fundraised to establish the Asgard Theatre above a pub in 2019. This 70-seater black box space proved that there was a sustainable audience for live performance in the town.
In August 2025, the Arklow Arts Centre opened on the former site of "Plain and Purl". This was seen as a breakthrough, providing a year-round hub for exhibitions and workshops and serving as a catalyst for regeneration in the riverside area.
The recent public meeting heard how discussions have shifted from "if" a theatre was needed to "where" it should be. Several high-potential locations for a permanent theatre have already been identified, shifting focus toward adaptive reuse of vacant town-centre spaces.
The former Ormonde Cinema is perhaps the most prominent proposed location. While planning was recently approved for a mixed-use residential development of 99 homes on the surrounding site, the developer Knockinver Limited is required to refurbish the cinema building itself. Public calls persist for this space to be used as a cultural hub rather than its currently proposed commercial/office use.
Community members have suggested repurposing large vacant units in the Bridgewater Shopping Centre, such as the former Argos unit or the mezzanine area.
Another suggestion involves converting one of the underused cinema screens into a dedicated live performance space, though management interest has been historically low.
Meanwhile, there are currently more than 40 vacant commercial units in the town centre. Local representatives argue that a theatre must be anchored here to drive footfall and support the night-time economy.
Long-term strategic plans propose a new "civic heart" for Arklow, featuring a purpose-built cultural building of similar ambition to the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray.
During recent Local Planning Framework consultations, multiple submissions called for a "multi-purpose arts and performance venue" rather than just offices.
Cllr Warren O'Toole has highlighted that while refurbishment is positive, the town still lacks a dedicated indoor performance hub, and he remains supportive of finding a way to integrate theatrical space into such town-centre developments like a community centre.
“I believe Wicklow County Council purchasing a site would be a positive, future-focused decision, one that benefits not just today’s residents, but generations to come.
“It also avoids a growing problem we see too often on Main Street, sites being bought, left idle & deteriorating, with nothing happening for years. That helps no one, not residents, not businesses and not regeneration,” he added.
These sentiments were echoed by his party colleague Wicklow Wexford TD Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin.
“A respectable-sized crowd of 30 turned up at the meeting with lots of ideas for a town that has been neglected by the powers-that-be in terms of the arts and in many other ways for far too long.
“There is huge potential and talent in Arklow in terms of the amount of people with a background in theatre, music and the arts.
"Build it and they will come', as they say, and Arklow is not short on vacant buildings that could potentially be developed for a theatre space, which in my opinion must be in the Town Centre/Main Street area,” he added.
Through previous discussions with Wicklow County Council, Cllr O’ Toole found out one of the key issues raised in relation to the former Eir building on the Emoclew Road was that it did not meet the needs of a central, town-centre location.