DUBLIN'S IMAX CINEMA CLOSES DOORS

DUBLIN’S 370-seat IMAX cinema, operated by the Belfast-based Sheridan Group, recently closed its doors at short notice.
The closure has been blamed on low audience turn out and a lack-lustre range of large format films.
The large-format cinema in Dublin’s city centre opened on June 4 1998 offering what at the time was the biggest large screen venue in Europe.
When first opened, the Dublin film trade perceived the Sheridan IMAX cinema as only a marginally viable enterprise due to the location and lack of synergy with other entertainment outlets.
The cinema had a recent success with the release of Disney’s 'Fantasia 2000', grossing IR£286,000 earlier this year - worldwide 'Fantasia 2000' took $63,000,000. Ironically, the closure came just as IMAX International’s latest release, 'Cyberworld', was being publicised in Dublin. Staff received 24 hours notice of the closure and it is understood that no redundancy arrangements were discussed.
Sheridan Group's latest IMAX cinema is due to open at Belfast's new Odyssey complex in Northern Ireland in November. The new 600,000 sq ft facility features a screen measuring 20 metres high by 26 metres wide, 2D and 3D formats, and a sophisticated sound system.
Costing £91 million the Odyssey project, with a £16.9 million investment made by the Sheridan Group, is ranked among the top three projects in Europe.
There are over 195 IMAX theatres worldwide, and 80 theatre systems are scheduled to open in 15 new countries during the next few years.
IMAX cinemas currently operate in Bradford and London, and theatres in Bristol, Glasgow and London.