Shared Island Funding being Assessed for Newry Theatre Project

An announcement made today by the Irish Government could potentially re-start the stalled plans to build a new theatre and conference facility on the site of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre in Newry. 

Over €50m of funding has been announced for projects in the latest phase of Shared Island support for cross border projects and  Newry Theatre is mentioned as one of these that they will "complete assessment of"! It's not currently known how long the assessment will take or what sum of money is involved.

The Creative Ireland-Shared Island programme and Arts projects has up to €14.5 million available for 2026-28 and as part of that category todays announcement said "Building on the arts capital investment dimension of the Shared Island Initiative, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport will also complete assessment of a proposed capital funding contribution towards the construction of Newry Theatre, as part of the city’s wider regeneration programme, which is also funded by the Northern Ireland Executive (Department for Communities) and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council."

Currently the project has obtained planning permission and technically should be good to go but Newry, Mourne and Down District Council had said that their might be implications for the £7m Belfast Region City Deal money for Public Realm works at the theatre, due to the ongoing Judicial Review of the proposed Civic Centre. The civic centre project has been tied to the theatre by council as part of the council's Newry City Centre Regeneration scheme. As a result progress on the project has stalled.

Making today’s announcements, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:“The Government has today made a funding commitment of over €50 million through our Shared Island Fund to 10 new programmes, investing for the future to improve people’s lives and strengthen connections across the island of Ireland."

Welcoming the announcement Newry City Councillor Aidan Mathers said: “I warmly welcome today’s announcement of investment from the Shared Island Fund for this major project.

“This funding represents a significant investment in our area which will be central to delivering a modern, accessible theatre and conference facility that our entire community can benefit from.

“This project will revitalise the local economy, support jobs, and enable our thriving arts and drama sector to continue to grow."

Cllr Mathers added: “This investment is also a strong endorsement of meaningful cross-border cooperation and regional development, and demonstrates the ongoing commitment of all partners involved.

“We have worked tirelessly to drive this project forward, and today’s announcement brings genuine excitement and renewed momentum right across our district.

“Sinn Féin will continue to work with partners north and south to ensure that investment like this delivers real, positive change for workers, families and communities.”

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have also welcomed the announcement of prospective funding for the Theatre and Conference Centre, the purpose of which is to enhance cultural activity space in the heart of the City, attract new audiences, increase visitor dwell time, and promote a sustainable night-time economy for our City. 

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Philip Campbell said, “I am delighted to welcome this support for the arts from the Shared Island initiative. Further funding will help us as a Council to realise our ambitious plans for the multifunctional Theatre and Conference Centre in Newry. The arts provide many powerful opportunities to connect as a community, and we remain committed to providing the best possible facilities for live performance in our district.”

While plans for the new theatre have been welcomed by many, others have expressed reservations over the proposed demolition of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre to enable the scheme as well as concerns that the size of the theatre is not ambitious enough. Local members of the arts community have also pointed out that the proposed new facility doesn't have a purpose built gallery/ exhibition space, something they see as essential.