The Galway-based Cinemobile – which has travelled the length and breadth of the country for the past 15 years – has reached the end of the road.
The Board of the company behind the mobile 100-seater cinema, Fís na Mílaoise Teo, ceased trading last week because of a lack of funding.
A creditors’ meeting will take place in the Moycarn Lodge Hotel in Ballinasloe next Tuesday.
According to the most up-to-date company accounts available, the cinemobile made a loss of just under €15,000 in 2014, and six staff are employed.
In a statement, the Board of Cinemobile (which operates as a charity) said: “Despite the best efforts of the Directors and staff, and significant success in boosting commercial revenue, it has been impossible to make up the deficit caused in recent years by the gradual erosion of Cinemobile’s core public funding.
“The company can therefore no longer continue in business. However, the Board would like to acknowledge with thanks the consistent and unwavering support by the Irish Film Board of Cinemobile.
“It is with great sadness and sincere thanks to our extraordinary staff that the Board has taken this decision.
“Cinemobile has played a unique and important role in the film sector in Ireland since its establishment as a Millennium project in 2000. Cinemobile has brought the mobile cinema experience to community projects, festivals and school children throughout the island of Ireland for sixteen years,” the statement reads.
According to the accounts, grant income comes from the Arts Council, local councils and the Irish Film Board, while principal funding comes from the mobile cinema, hires (such as corporate events) and box office.
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