Town Hall Theatre

The theatre is a most picturesque sight standing astride a three-arched bridge over the Clanrye River in the centre of the town. Its front five-bay façade of brick with local granite embellishments is vaguely Lombardic-classical in style. There are brick pilasters and a Venetian window to the three centre bays which break forward and rise up to terminate in balustrading and a small pedimented pavilion where a clock is the centrepiece.

The original entrance (still in use) leads into a small domed rotunda with robust plaster embellishments. On either side there are wide staircases up to the first floor auditorium where the main features are a horse-shoe shaped balcony and the painted proscenium. In front of the stage a concealed hoist moves chairs from the auditorium to the Minor Hall at the back of the permanent cyclorama. The stage is raked.

The new (1992) décor in the auditorium where walls and ceilings are painted out in a vibrant middle blue (with gold stars on the ceiling) and the Corinthian pilasters between the semi-circular headed windows all create a strong theatrical night-time atmosphere; but it is the painted proscenium with its marbled panels above the elliptical opening and smaller side arches (erected about 1910) which adds the necessary sparkle. Unfortunately the centre portion of the ornamental cast-iron balcony front has been obliterated by crude sound-absorbent panels.

Large gold letters at the base of the balcony front read ‘We are the music-makers and we are the dreamers of dreams yet we are the movers and shakers of the world it seems’ (Arthur O’Shaughnessy). A fitting motto.

The fine Edwardian Council Chamber in the Town hall is still used by Councillors - all other Council offices have moved.