'Things needs to get moving' - Planning underway to commemorate Dromcollogher Cinema fire

SERIOUS time pressure is mounting as preparations intensify for the 100-year commemoration of the Dromcollogher Cinema fire, one of the most devastating tragedies in the region’s history.

Speaking about the upcoming centenary event, due to take place in early September 2026, Cllr Jerome Scanlan warned that while next September may seem distant, “in reality, organising a centenary commemoration leaves just months to get everything in place.”

At the November meeting of Newcastle West Municipal District, he stressed that the pressure is being felt by the local committee and by all involved, noting that although the committee has been active for the past year and a half and has already begun fundraising, “things needs to get moving.”

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The significance of the event is profound. The 1926 fire claimed 48 lives, a loss of life comparable to the Stardust nightclub disaster in Dublin which also resulted in the deaths of 48 people.

Cllr Scanlan explained that "in a close-knit community, the impact was overwhelming, almost 10% of the town’s population died, many were injured, and several children were left orphaned. With no counselling or bereavement supports available at the time, families carried their grief silently for generations."

Cllr Scanlan emphasised that urgent progress is required to ensure the centenary is marked with the dignity, sensitivity, and the historical care it deserves.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme