THE closure last autumn of Galway's Claddagh Palace cinema dealt a body blow to the rather ad hoc campaign to provide the city with an outlet for art house cinema, writes Mike Casey. Now, however, the new Municipal Theatre, along with the established Galway Film Society, will attempt to serve LIP a cinematic menu catering for tastes outside the mainstream. Previously, the only chance to view art house cinema in the city was to trek out to UCG on Monday evenings, when the Film Society showed creaky 16 mm prints in a lecture theatre. Galway Corporation has put up £60,000 to facilitate the purchase of 35 mm projection equipment and the more luxurious surroundings of the theatre, plus its more central location, should make it more accessible to punters.

The first screening will be the Italian film, Il Postino, on February 4th, one of the biggest hits on last year's art house circuit, but a film which has yet to be shown in Galway. As well as showing the spring and autumn programmes of the Galway Film Society, it is also planned to host events such as occasional special premieres and the European Animation Festival next September.