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Cllr. Jim Long
Mayor of Limerick
“The ROYAL will be a great cultural,
economic and educational initiative
that will help to modernise and
revitalise Limerick. The ROYAL
project has the full backing of Tom
Mackey, Limerick City Manager,
and his staff. Good luck to everyone
involved, and in particular, Paul
Patton and Dave Burns, in their efforts
to bring the new ROYAL to life.”
How did the ROYAL project begin?
Introduction
Early in 2010, the newly-appointed CEO of City of Limerick VEC, Paul Patton,
City of Limerick Vocational Education
City Gallery has been extended and the
CLVEC will make the Royal the city
approached cinema campaigner, Dave Burns, to explore the potential of refurbishing
Committee (CLVEC) plans to redevelop
Belltable renovated.
centre destination and Limerick’s
the Athenaeum Hall as a modern digital cinema and media training facility. Over the
the Athenaeum Hall/Royal Cinema in
next few months, they looked at a number of similar sites in Ireland and the UK.
Upper Cecil Street as a modern digital
The Athenaeum has a prime place in
will be a world class venue for the
regeneration epicentre. The new Royal
centre with a three-screen cinema,
Limerick hearts. As Limerick’s first
best in mainstream, independent and
Following a tender process, cinema consultants evaluated the feasibility of a City
media training facilities and a café/
‘University’, it resounded to the voices
classic cinema. More than a cinema, it
Centre cinema and media training facility. A subsequent full-scale Feasibility Study
bar. The conversion of the Athenaeum
of Pearse and Parnell, Percy French
will provide media training for schools,
confirmed the viability of the new Royal as a digital cinema and media training hub
into a multi-purpose entertainment,
and John McCormack. Later, as the
learners, focus groups, community
for Limerick.
cultural and learning centre will
Royal Cinema, the images of Chaplin,
groups, and a new generation of film,
resonate with the proud history of this
Hepburn and Bogart flickered across
television and web content creators.
iconic building. The new Royal will
its silver screen. And, in its incarnation
The Royal will be a forum for talks,
meet Limerick City Council’s planned
as a music venue, it played host to The
debates and literary events, a space for
development of the Georgian Quarter
Cranberries and Billy Connolly.
painting, sculpture and photography
as a Centre of Culture – already the
exhibitions, and will welcome all
sections of the community.
Cllr. Maria Byrne
Former Mayor of Limerick
“The ROYAL project is a most
exciting development for Limerick.
The Athenaeum Hall retains a
place in our hearts, particularly in
my own memories of going to the
pictures. As a Committee member of
CLVEC, I wish you every success with
the ROYAL project.”
Paul Patton is CEO, City of Limerick
Dave Burns is a company director
VEC, a public service education
and former Lecturer in Computer
organisation providing education
Systems at the University of
and support services across the city.
Limerick. He has been actively
He is a former Director of Adult
campaigning for a digital cinema
Education and Director of Limerick
for Limerick since 2008.
College of Further Education.
The new ROYAL will be Limerick’s world-class
venue for mainstream, independent and classic
movies, media training and a forum for a new
generation of media professionals.
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Pat Shortt
Actor, Director of Gable End Media
(Film and Television Production
Company), Board member of the
Fresh Film Festival
“Film makers no matter what
their circumstances, will
always overcome the odds to
make a film and ply their art.
But the difference between
making films and sustaining
an industry is a centre like The
ROYAL, which not alone is a
place to see films that might
not be mainstream, but also
a centre where film makers
can meet and encourage one
another. This is a fantastic
opportunity for the people of
the Mid-West, film lovers, film
makers and the youngsters
who are interested in pursuing
a career in the industry.”
Cinema
Digital Media
Training
Digital Lounge
Live Satellite
Broadcasting
Festivals
Today’s cinemas are very successful
The Royal will be Limerick’s digital
The Royal will have Ireland’s first
The Royal will screen ‘alternative
Limerick will have a forum to
financially and the introduction of
media hub. Courses will be provided
‘digital lounge’ – an informal 4th
content’ - satellite broadcasts of
mount film festivals, which will
digital projection enables even
in training rooms and film editing
screen which will be hired for
live events such as Opera from the
complement the Cork, Galway and
one-screen cinemas to be profitable.
suites, as well as the two cinema
screening work-in-progress, social
New York Met, the Royal Ballet, UK
Dublin International Film Festivals.
The three-screen Royal cinema,
screens equipped as lecture theatres.
occasions like birthday parties &
National Theatre, rock concerts and
with full 3D, will screen an
Aspiring professionals can meet,
anniversaries and team computer
major sporting events.
eclectic programme of films each
work together, rent camera
gaming. The Digital Lounge will be
week - mainstream, art house,
equipment and get advice.
particularly suitable for meetings,
documentaries, special interest,
Limerick’s media training hub can
lunches, and training events. It
European and World Cinema –
lead to a new digital industry in
will utilise the latest broadband
thereby enhancing and expanding
Limerick, whether in film, television,
technologies to enable remote
Limerick’s cultural, educational and
computer gaming, phone or web
Q&A sessions.
social life. Together with the café/
content development. The media
bar, the Royal will be the city centre
training dovetails with the key
day and night time meeting place.
recommendations of the Creative
Capital Report of July 2011, to double
turnover in the Irish audiovisual
industry to €1bn, to double jobs to
10,000 and to increase
audiovisual exports.
Today’s cinemas are very successful financially and the
introduction of digital projection enables even one-screen
cinemas to be profitable.
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Proposed Floor Plans
Operation of the ROYAL
The Challenge for the ROYAL
Using the services of a not-for-profit management company, the Royal will generate
A pre-feasibility study carried out
Local architects, EML, in collaboration
The Feasibility Study revealed that
surplus income through:
in Summer 2010 by Mayfield Arts
with Stefanie Fischer, a London-based
the Construction and Fit-out costs
Cinema Consultants showed that
cinema architect, were commissioned to
for a fully equipped three-screen
Limerick can support a three-screen
carry out a Feasibility Study to examine
digital cinema (the two smaller
City Centre cinema in the refurbished
the proposal further, and to determine
screens to be equipped as lecture
Athenaeum Hall.
how best the space could be used.
theatres) with a café/bar, two
The study was supported financially
training rooms, media editing
CLVEC set up a Steering Committee
by Limerick City Council, Limerick
suites and offices will amount
to manage and monitor the
Enterprise Development Partnership,
to €4.5 million including
project; visits were made to similar
Shannon Development, Limerick
professional fees.
developments, and the Arts Council,
Regeneration and the Department of
• programming the best in mainstream, cultural, educational, classic, national and
Dr Vincent Cunnane
CEO, Shannon Development
“Shannon Development fully
supports the ROYAL project
because it fits into many of our
own aspirations for the Mid-West.
The ROYAL will help tourism,
city centre business activity,
innovation and new business
development.
Shannon Development is actively
attracting established film
production companies to the
Mid-West; the proposed digital
media training for the ROYAL
will strengthen our hand in
developing an exciting field,
by creating a pool of skilled
media professionals. Much
of the evidence for regional
development success shows that
the availability of a skills pool
is one of the biggest attractions
for inward investors. We are
anxious to see this project come
to fruition, and we are prepared
to back it all the way.”
international film
• operation of the café/bar – snacks, drinks, light meals and wines
• training facilities and equipment rental
• digital lounge hire
• classroom and auditorium rental
The Royal will meet the requirements of the following sectors:
Irish Film Board, local and national
Tourism, Culture and Sport (2010). The
• Schools Film Education - lectures and screenings
Government, and other agencies were
Study, together with Concept Drawings,
• Ethnic Minorities - foreign language films and mini-festivals
consulted and briefed.
was presented to the Royal Steering
Committee in December 2010.
• ‘Silver Screen’ – seasons of classic films for the older audience
• Unemployed – low-price ‘movie and coffee’ mornings
• Third Level Students - niche interests such as Sci-Fi, Animé and Manga, team
computer gaming, and short seasons curated by volunteer enthusiasts
• Children’s parties in the Digital Lounge with film favourites
• Mothers and toddlers – afternoon shows for mothers and babies
Surplus income will be used to promote digital media training,
and to fund makers of short films, such as trainee film makers,
schools, and community groups.
Dave Burns stands beside the original
Box Office of the ROYAL Cinema
Pictured from left: Aileen O’Sullivan, ESS Officer, CLVEC; John O’Connor, HR Officer, CLVEC;
Jan O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade;
Paul Patton, CEO, CLVEC and Mary Troy, Finance Officer, CLVEC
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Visualisation of Proposed Refurbished Exterior by Burrell Foley Fischer LLP
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How can the ROYAL happen?
Sources of Finance
In order to carry out the planning application and survey stage of the Royal
project, €90,000 has been sourced from CLVEC, Limerick City Council and Limerick
Regeneration. Submissions for further funding will be made to Central Government,
the European Union, local authorities and statutory bodies, as well as private
philanthropic organisations. It is expected that the funding will come from a range
Burns Pet Nutrition
Ireland Limited
of sources.
Gerard
Stembridge
In order to realise this ambitious and worthwhile project by Spring 2013, a total of
around €4.5 million must be raised.
Film and Television
Scriptwriter, Film Director,
Film Producer and Novelist
Francis could see a bright
red sign that said ‘Royal’.
Now he could see the
names of the pictures.
Timeline and Budgeted Amounts
October 2011
Appoint Architectural Services Team
November 2011
Submit Planning Application and
commence surveys of the Athenaeum Hall
We will seek to be included in the
€90,000
(in place)
Request For Tender (RFT) Quantity
Surveyor for Client
January 2012
Complete Detailed Design
RFT Building Contractors
February 2012
Appoint Building Contractors. Commence
Construction. Anticipated construction
costs to be paid out in stage payments
over construction period
April 2012
Architect fees for Construction management
January 2013
Completion and fit out
February 2013
Grand Opening of the new Royal
€80,000
€100,000
€3,100,000
€90,000
€1,000,000
3 Philanthropic
Foundations, Trusts and
Companies
5 Friends of the ROYAL,
Patrons, Micro-Finance
When substantial funding for
the Department of Arts, Heritage
Now that the finance is in place
the Royal has been secured,
and the Gaeltacht.
to proceed with a Planning
then around five per cent of
Application, appeals can now be
the total funding can be raised
made to philanthropic bodies,
through public contribution.
Since the Royal offers significant
both home and abroad, together
A determined fund-raising
tourist potential, funding may
with large companies which
committee will be formed and
be sourced through Shannon
have an interest in fostering
monies will be raised from
Development who view it as
community development.
seat sponsorships, individual
2 Tourism
Receive Planning Permission following
discussions with Limerick City Council
Appoint Quantity Surveyor, Clerk of Works
From ‘Unspoken’, Gerard’s new
novel set in Limerick
“All the very best for the new
ROYAL. It will bring back
memories and I’m delighted
that you are going to keep the
marble box office. Limerick
will be transformed when
you’re up and running!”
1 Irish Government
2012 and 2013 capital budgets for
THE FACE OF FU MANCHU
DRACULA
They ran in out of the rain
and Martin dragged him
over to where the posters
for the films were in a
glass case.
All have given significant and welcome backing to the ROYAL project so far. For the next stages of the project, much more financial
support must be obtained. The following possible additional sources have been identified:
once-off and standing-order
a ‘destination cinema’/digital
media training hub offering a
4 EU Funding
contributions, using personal
great venue for national and
There are several eligible EU
approach and Crowd Sourced
international film festivals, for
funding sources for the Royal.
Micro-Finance through the
training and equipment rental,
Partnerships will be set up
Royal website.
and also as a film and television
and applications for funding
location, particularly when a
submitted to the European
cohort of trained film makers
Regional Development Funds (ERDF)
has been developed. It will also
Programme and the European
promote the development of the
Territorial Cooperation Programmes
inner city, coinciding with the
(ETCP), formerly known as
plans for regeneration in other
INTERREG.
parts of the City.
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Conclusion
The Athenaeum has a prime
place in Limerick hearts. As
Limerick’s first ‘University’, it
The Royal - ‘More Than a Cinema’ - needs Ambassadors and Patrons for the next
stages of this great new social enterprise.
Brendan Kenny
Chief Executive, Limerick
Regeneration
“The Limerick Regeneration Project
is and will be a very important
issue for Limerick with many
challenges and opportunities. A
key part of the project is social
regeneration and within that we
see powerful opportunities for
sport, art and culture in the city.
These can be a crucial catalyst
for redevelopment and a better
quality of life for residents and
for young people. In addition it is
crucial to have greater interaction
and connectivity between the
regeneration communities and
the rest of the city, in particular
the City Centre. Therefore, the
Limerick Regeneration Agencies
are very supportive of new facilities
to promote greater participation
in arts, culture and media outlets
and believe that the proposed
reopening of the ROYAL in Limerick
City will be of great benefit both to
the city and towards the objectives
and principles of the Limerick
Regeneration Programme.”
A successful cinema and café/bar will finance media training and new projects. This
resounded to the voices of Pearse
Paul Patton, CEO, CLVEC
and Parnell, Percy French and
Dave Burns
John McCormack.
Sheila Deegan, Limerick City Arts Officer
in turn can create employment, a framework for a new media industry and build
confidence and pride in a positive and vibrant Limerick.
ROYAL Project
Steering Committee
Patrick Hogan, PR Officer, CLVEC
Later, as the ROYAL Cinema,
Pat Keogh
the images of Chaplin, Hepburn
Cllr. Denis McCarthy, Chairperson, CLVEC
and Bogart flickered across
Declan McLoughlin, Limerick Film Archive
We need Patrons to contribute financially to breathe new life to Limerick’s City
its silver screen. And, in its
Aileen O’Sullivan, ESS Officer, CLVEC
Centre. Your support is vital.
incarnation as a music venue, it
Eoghan Prendergast, Shannon Development
played host to The Cranberries
Mary Troy, Finance Officer, CLVEC
We need Ambassadors to use their influence and contacts to make a case for the
Royal to Patrons.
Help us roll out the ROYAL!
and Billy Connolly.