Savoy Cinema
A historic Dublin cinema and Irish film-première venue on Upper O'Connell Street.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Savoy Cinema is a historic cinema on the east side of Upper O'Connell Street in Dublin, Ireland. Opened in 1929, it is described as Dublin's oldest operational cinema and has long held a distinctive place in the country's exhibition history. Its location in the capital city centre, large original auditorium, and association with major Irish premières have made it one of Ireland's best-known cinema venues. The cinema was built by Meagher & Hayes on the site of the former Granville Hotel. Its original auditorium accommodated 2,789 people and opened with On with the Show, an American colour talkie. The building was subsequently adapted to changing exhibition technology and audience patterns. In 1954, it was modified to install a large CinemaScope screen and presented The Robe, identified as Ireland's first widescreen feature. At that time, the cinema was operated by Odeon Ireland Ltd. Savoy has undergone extensive internal subdivision. In 1969, the original venue was converted into a twin cinema. The former restaurant became a 200-seat third screen in 1975, and additional subdivisions in 1979 brought the total to five screens. A sixth screen was added in 1988. These changes increased programming flexibility but reduced the building's original capacity by approximately one-third. Renovation work in 2004 relocated the box office into a former adjoining shop and altered the placement of the confectionery counter. The venue continued to evolve in the twenty-first century. Its Advance Screening Room became an additional screen in 2014 and was later designated Screen 13. In 2016, the former 500-seat Screen 2 was divided into three smaller auditoria, making Savoy a nine-screen city-centre cinema. Work on the iconic 750-seat Screen 1 began in January 2018, with the auditorium scheduled for subdivision into multiple screens. Beyond routine film exhibition, Savoy has been strongly associated with premières and major public screenings. It has hosted Irish premières of films including Alexander, Once, and The Man in the Iron Mask, particularly films with Irish connections. The cinema also served the Dublin International Film Festival, especially for high-profile opening and closing events, until 2017. Its surprise-film screenings have attracted particular attention; the 2006 surprise screening was reported as the first Irish showing of 300. The venue has also faced commercial pressure. In 2012, reports indicated that it was at risk of closure after annual attendance had fallen from approximately 740,000 to 250,000 over the preceding decade. Despite that challenge, the cinema's central location, heritage status in popular perception, première profile, and continuing physical adaptation have sustained its identity as a major Dublin exhibition venue.
History
Savoy Cinema was constructed in 1929 by Meagher & Hayes on Dublin's Upper O'Connell Street, replacing the former Granville Hotel site. The original cinema was conceived as a substantial and luxurious auditorium, with seating for 2,789 people. Its opening programme was On with the Show, an American colour talkie, reflecting the venue's early connection with new developments in popular film presentation. The building was adapted as cinema technology changed. In 1954, a major alteration provided a large CinemaScope screen. The Robe was shown there as Ireland's first widescreen feature, while the venue was under the ownership or operation of Odeon Ireland Ltd. This phase established the Savoy as a venue capable of presenting technically ambitious productions to a large audience. Most of the cinema's later history involved the conversion of its large auditorium into a collection of smaller screens. In 1969, the building became a twin cinema. The restaurant was converted into a 200-seat third screen in 1975, and further subdivisions in 1979 produced five screens. A sixth screen followed in 1988. The successive alterations made the venue more adaptable to films of different sizes and commercial scheduling requirements, but reduced the original capacity by about one-third. The Savoy has consequently been characterized as one of Dublin's most altered cinemas. Renovation continued in 2004, when the box office was moved from two booths beside the entrance into a former adjoining shop. The confectionery counter was also relocated during the building's ongoing internal changes. In 2014, the Advance Screening Room became an additional screen; it was subsequently identified as Screen 13. In 2016, the old Screen 2, which had held approximately 500 people, was divided into three smaller auditoria, taking the cinema to nine screens. In January 2018, the 750-seat Screen 1 was closed for further work to create multiple screens. Savoy's cultural role extends beyond ordinary commercial exhibition. It has hosted numerous Irish premières, with a particular association with films connected to Ireland. Its première history includes Alexander, Once, and The Man in the Iron Mask. The venue was also used by the Dublin International Film Festival until 2017, especially for high-profile opening and closing screenings. The cinema's surprise-film programme generated notable interest: the 2006 surprise film, 300, was reported as receiving its first Irish screening at the Savoy. The cinema's history includes occasional controversy. In December 1934, Republicans demonstrated against the screening of a newsreel covering the marriage of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina. In the modern period, the venue experienced commercial difficulties as audience numbers fell sharply. In 2012, reports stated that annual attendance had declined from 740,000 to 250,000 over the previous decade and that closure was a possibility. The Savoy nevertheless remained an operational cinema and continued adapting its facilities to contemporary exhibition patterns.
- 2018
Screen 1 renovation begins
[1]The historic 750-seat Screen 1 closed for work intended to divide it into several smaller screens.
- 2016
Screen count reaches nine
[1]The former Screen 2 was divided into three smaller auditoria, creating a nine-screen cinema.
- 2014
Advance Screening Room becomes an additional screen
[1]The Advance Screening Room entered the regular screen configuration and was later identified as Screen 13.
- 2004
Front-of-house renovation
[1]The box office was relocated into a former adjoining shop and the confectionery area was rearranged.
- 1988
Sixth screen added
[1]The cinema added a sixth auditorium through further alterations.
- 1979
Further subdivision creates five screens
[1]Additional internal changes expanded the cinema to five screens.
- 1975
Third screen created
[1]The former restaurant was converted into a 200-seat auditorium.
- 1969
Conversion into a twin cinema
[1]The original single auditorium was divided to create two cinemas.
- 1954
CinemaScope installation
[1]The auditorium was modified for a large CinemaScope screen and presented The Robe, described as Ireland's first widescreen feature.
- 1934
Republican demonstration over a newsreel
[1]Republicans protested the cinema's screening of a newsreel about the marriage of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina.
Products and positioning
A historic, centrally located Dublin cinema positioned around heritage, première screenings, major film events, and flexible multi-screen exhibition.
Cinema exhibition · 1929
Mainstream and première film screenings
Savoy's core offering is public exhibition of feature films, including high-profile Irish premières. Its central Dublin location and long-established auditorium infrastructure have made it a recurring venue for films receiving major public or industry launches in Ireland.
Cinema exhibition
Festival and special-event screenings
The cinema has hosted special screenings and major festival events, including prominent Dublin International Film Festival presentations and surprise-film programmes. These events complement its ordinary commercial schedule and use the venue's profile as a landmark city-centre cinema.
Brand decisions
2018
Subdivision of the historic Screen 1StrategyBackground
The cinema continued modernising its internal layout while retaining its city-centre location.
Action taken
The 750-seat Screen 1 was closed for work to divide it into multiple smaller auditoria.
2016
Expansion to a nine-screen configurationStrategyBackground
The venue continued adapting its historic footprint to contemporary multi-screen programming.
Action taken
The former 500-seat Screen 2 was divided into three smaller screens.
Aftermath
Savoy became a nine-screen cinema in Dublin city centre.
1969
Conversion from a single auditorium to multiple screensStrategyBackground
Cinema operators increasingly sought flexible scheduling and the ability to show several films simultaneously.
Action taken
Savoy converted its original auditorium into a twin cinema and later continued subdividing the building.
Aftermath
The cinema eventually developed into a multi-screen venue, while its original seating capacity was substantially reduced.
1954
Adoption of CinemaScope presentationGeneration changeBackground
Widescreen exhibition was becoming an important way for cinemas to distinguish theatrical presentation from home viewing.
Action taken
Savoy altered its auditorium to install a large CinemaScope screen and presented The Robe.
Aftermath
The venue became associated with an important early widescreen presentation in Ireland.
Sources2 sources
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