Irish actor Cillian Murphy and his wife Yvonne McGuinness have confirmed the purchase of the famous Phoenix Cinema in Co Kerry.
The cinema which was located in the heart of the seaside town, Daingean Uí Chúis, was closed down during the pandemic, before being put up for sale.
This news comes following weeks of speculation that Murphy and McGuinness were interested in purchasing the cinema, with plans to expand the "creative potential" of the site.
Fans had been growing increasingly concerned that the cinema would be purchased by property developers, with a community-led campaign to "save the Phoenix".
The Phoenix Cinema certainly resonates with Cillian Murphy, with his parents having forged such strong connections with the local community over the years.
"I’ve been going to see films at The Phoenix since I was a young boy on summer holidays," Murphy said in a statement.
"My Dad saw movies there when he was a young man before me, and we’ve watched many films at The Phoenix with our own kids. We recognise what the cinema means to Dingle," he added.
The Oscar winning actor is certainly well known in the west Kerry Gaeltacht, where he has a house and spends a lot of his time there when he is away from stage and screen commitments.
Having been originally opened in 1919, the Phoenix Cinema went on to become a popular venue for showbands in the 1950s and 1960s under the Moore family's ownership.
The venue has also hosted household names including Rory Gallagher and Dana, with the latter performing there shortly after her Eurovision triumph in 1970.
The film also showcased the controversial movie 'Ryan's Daughter' starring Sarah Miles and Robert Mitchum, featuring several scenes films along the Dingle peninsula.
Cillian Murphy and Yvonne McGuinness have said that renovations on the premises will begin next year.
