Heavy Rain Forces Temporary Closure of Galway Cinema

The EYE Cinema in Galway has been forced to close temporarily after heavy rain caused significant damage to the building on Thursday.

Authorities say the roof partially collapsed shortly before 6pm, following an accumulation of water from persistent rainfall during the day. The building was evacuated and one woman was taken to University Hospital Galway as a precaution.

Gardaí and Galway Fire and Rescue Services attended the scene, establishing a safety cordon around the area.

Speaking to RTÉ, Galway’s Chief Fire Officer Gerry O’Malley praised cinema staff for their swift response when the damage first became apparent.

The cinema, located in Wellpark Retail Park, reported extensive internal flooding and structural damage, including the partial collapse of a movie theatre ceiling. The facility will remain closed until further notice.

Thursday’s heavy rain prompted a Status Yellow rain warning across County Galway until 6pm, affecting much of the region.

The nearby town of Athenry recorded 30.1mm of rainfall, according to Met Éireann.