Dublin to get two drive-in movie screens

Clodagh Sheehy

DRIVE-IN movies are on the way to Dublin this summer. Two huge screens are planned for a site in the heart of the city at Ringsend, close to the East Link bridge.

A CORK-BASED couple who brought the first drive-in movie park to this country 18 months ago have applied to Dublin City Council for permission to expand to a Dublin base.

The Movie Junction Drive-In Cinema company, owned by husband and wife Stephen and Ellie Redmond, developed the first drive-in cinema in Ireland at Fota retail park in Cork.

The idea came from their shared passion for cinema and the fact that, when they had their first baby, Sophie, they found it hard to get babysitters.

"We went to a drive-in movie at a festival five years ago and we loved it," said Ellie.

The Redmonds hope to provide two huge screens -- "the size of a house", says Ellie -- at the Dublin venue.

Cars would park on a gently sloping semi-circle around the screen, with about 100 cars to each screen.

"In Cork, people can order takeaway pizza and chicken from their cars, which comes within 30 minutes, and we would hope to provide the same.

"We also have the usual popcorn, sweets and drinks."

The Dublin site is next to the old glass bottle site in Ringsend and the couple plan to submit a detailed planning application to the city council next week.

Ellie says the screens could be up and running by August or September. Charges would be similar to Cork: €16 for a couple and €20 for a family or a group of adults.

csheehy@herald.ie