Take a trip down memory lane to the glory days of the Drumcondra Grand, which was opened by celebrated Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alfie Byrne, in 1934.

Part of a small circuit of suburban cinemas owned by Leonard Ging, the 1200-seat ‘Drummer’ became a hugely popular venue. This illustrated talk sets this local picture house within the broader context of the Golden Age of cinema, when the movies were an important social outlet for Dubliners, charting its rise and ultimate demise. Although the Grand survived as a cinema for just 34 years, it has retained a place in the heart of locals. Dr. Ruth McManus will tell the story of the Drumcondra Grand a.k.a. ‘The Drummer – Drumcondra’s beloved cinema.