A RADIO documentary by Ciaran Ryan (Out On A Limb record company) is available on the Radio Newstalk now on newstalk.com.
The programme follows the history of the city’s legendary Theatre Royal venue. Now lying idle since the late 90’s, the venue hosted Oscar Wilde, Patrick Pearse, Catherine Hayes and John McCormack and in the 90’s The Cranberries, House of Pain and Billy Connolly performed there.
Black Grape played their debut show there and the “Eurovision Episode” of Father Ted was filmed there. Even when the venue was badly damaged by fire and left without a roof, metal band Judgement played the venue under an open sky.
House, techno and the region’s biggest 70’s night Boogie Wonderland also featured in the eclectic booking policies on the Cecil Street venue.
The informative and entertaining documentary reflects on the venue’s many heydays and the background to why the city centre venue was forced to close and not reopened since. Contributions from Noel Hogan (The Cranberries), Joe Clarke (promoter), Dr. Matthew Potter (Historian) and Stuart Clark (Hot Press Magazine).
