Hobbies and Pastimes in History, Macroom Cinema : A Window to the World

For most of the twentieth century, cinema was the dominant form of popular entertainment. Almost every Irish town had a cinema, and Macroom was no exception. Showing films mainly from Britain and the United States, cinemas offered local audiences a glimpse of lives, places and ideas beyond Ireland's borders. Despite censorship and their reputation as simple entertainment, films often tackled serious social issues and influenced attitudes, fashions and aspirations.

This talk explores the remarkable story of cinema-going in Macroom and considers why the impact of films on everyday life has often been underestimated.