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=Theatre Royal Cinema (Henry St.)=

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The Theatre Royal was a theatre located on Henry Street in Limerick city. It was constructed in 1841 by a local builder and architect Joseph Fogerty. The theatre served many comedic, musical and dramatic productions for a sustainable 60 years until it tragically burned to the ground on January 23rd 1922. Theatre Royal was also renowned for its famous visitors such as Irish writer and poet, Oscar Wilde, in 1884.

History
The Theatre Royal was situated on Henry Street in Limerick’s city centre. It was constructed by a local architect in 1841, Joseph Fogarty and could accommodate one and a half thousand people. Over the theatre’s lifespan of 60 years it held home to many performances of different genres. Comedic performances such as "The Belle of New York" and “The Flying Dutchman” were immensely popular, as were musical performances by various artists including Joseph O’Mara, D’oyly Carte and Moody Manners. In later years performances by “Mouser“ Fitzgerald, a local Baritone, provided great attraction to the theatre. Famous performers who graced the stage of the Theatre Royal include internationally popular escapist Harry Houdini and Limerick-born internationally acclaimed diva, Catherine Hayes.

Founder & Ownership


The older generation of Limerick people remembers with affection the Theatre Royal in Henry Street. It was the second theatre in the city to bear the same name. The first Theatre Royal was built in 1770 by one Tottenham Heaphy in Cornwallis Street, now Lower Gerald Griffin Street, but after a brief career of some twelve years was purchased by the Augustinian Fathers and converted into a church. Limerick remained without a theatre until in 1841 Joseph Fogerty purchased a plot of ground in Henry Street and on it erected a new Theatre Royal, a dwelling-house in the lane off Lower Mallow Street, known as Fogerty’s range or Theatre Lane.

The Theatre Royal in Limerick was one of four others built around Ireland. There was also three others built in Dublin on Hawkins Street, all three were built on the same site, beginning in 1821 and finally ending in 1962. For some years after the destruction by fire of Dublin’s Theatre Royal in February 1880, the Limerick theatre was the largest in Ireland. However, the Theatre Royal in Limerick was destroyed by a fire in 1922.

On the 7/4/1984 The Limerick Leader released an article called The Limerick Theatre Royal, it mentioned that the old site of the theatre was now occupied by the United Drug Company. Since then the site of the Theatre Royal was occupied by Smyths Toy Store up until its closure in the early 00’s. In 2012, the Abundant Life Christian Church decided to purchase the old Smyths Toy Store, turning it into a “Life Centre” for reaching & being a blessing to the city. Until the Life Centre is refurbished and opened, we will have to look upon the run down toy store and remember the joy it once gave the people of Limerick as a toy store and as the Theatre Royal. This site will continue to give the people of Limerick joy when the "Life Centre" is established.

The Theatre
Over the 60 years the theatre ran, an abundance of famous faces in the theatrical world performed. Limerick audiences favoured musical performances the most, so shows like D'oyly Carte, Joseph O' Mara, Moody Manners and Carl Rosa were always sold out. Also proving popular were musical comedies, most popular being the George Edwardes girl shows including "The girl in the train" and "My Girl." Many great performances were held in this theatre, musicals including "San Toy", "The Belle Of New York" and "The Merry Widow" among many, many others.

But the most popular amongst theatre goers, and the most enjoyed was a talented local barritone 'Mouser' Fitzgerald. He stole the show singing renditions of opera classics and no one compared to his talent. People were amazed to find out he had given up his singing career for the life of a pork butcher. The Theatre Royal was a much loved local attraction and it was a huge loss to the Limerick locals to find their beloved theatre burnt to the ground. The curtain had been closed for the last time.

The Cinema
1922. ]]

The Theatre Royal began to be used as a cinema in it’s later years. It first showed Cinematography moving pictures in May 1897. It was the first premises in Limerick in which Cinematography moving pictures were screened.

The cinema held screenings of various motion pictures over the next 25 years before being destroyed in the tragic fire. Although the cinema was successful, the Limerick audience preferred theater performance and favoured musical performances above all.