New ‘cineplex’ to open this month

September 1992

Wexford’s plush new three-in-one cinema, a facility that is being eagerly awaited by film fans in the town, will open in a £3.5 million shopping and leisure development at Redmond Road later this month.

The Wexford ‘ Cineplex’ will be owned and managed by the nationwide cinema chain, Ward Anderson, the former owners of the Abbey Cinema in George’s Street, which is being taken over by developer Tom Donnelly.

Mr Donnelly, the well-known Wexford developer, is the man behind the Redmond Road building complex which also comprises a pub, restaurants, and shops, and which will be known as The Square.

The development, situated opposite Dunnes Stores, finishes the rejuvenated entrance to Wexford.

It is on target to be completed by Friday September 25th, when the cinema will open with three major releases: ‘Patriot Games’ with Harrison Ford, ‘Lethal Weapon 3’ with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and ‘A League of Their Own’, an American baseball film featuring Madonna and Geena Davis.

A gala opening night will be held in the cinema complex on Saturday October 3rd, in aid of the County Wexford Hospice Foundation, which provides care at home for the terminally ill. There will be a select invite audience but some tickets are also available to the public at £10 each.

The complex is the culmination of a sixyear effort by Mr Donnelly to develop the site, which was at the centre of objections by nearby residents concerned about possible noise and disturbances at night.

Following negotiations with the residents, Mr Donnelly agreed to withdraw plans for a nightclub, that formed part of the original plans. Local publicans then later withdrew their objections to the granting of a licence for a pub when Mr Donnelly agreed to alter the plans.