Cillian Murphy and his artist wife Yvonne McGuinness have finally secured planning permission to restore a cinema in Dingle, Ireland.
The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer actor, 49, and his wife of 22 years bought the dilapidated cinema in November 2024 with the intention of restoring it to its former glory. A year and a half later, planning permission has finally been granted by Kerry County Council.
Cillian's plan is to create brand new facilities, exhibition areas and residential artists as well as a new and improved cinema in a bid to bring the local community together and create a vibrant space for everyone to enjoy.
© Getty ImagesAccording to the Irish Sunday Times, the project received €933,000 in grant funding through the Government Rural Regeneration Fund (RRF) and was backed by locals sending in letters of support.
The Peaky Blinders star and his long-term partner have earned hero status in the local community for their tireless attempts to benefit the area, making "personal approaches" to key players in all areas of the arts to make their dreams a reality.
"I’ve been going to see films at the Phoenix since I was a young boy on summer holidays. My dad saw movies there before me, and we’ve brought our own children there too. We recognise what the cinema means to Dingle," Cillian said at the time of their initial purchase.
© Alamy Stock PhotoA 'brave' move
Mark McLoughlin, co-director and board member of the Dingle Distillery International Film Festival, which is set to benefit from the project, recently spoke to Extra.ie about the couple's "brave" move.
He explained: "That was very brave of them, because you could really shoot yourself in the foot by over-exposing yourself to a community like that, rather than just going ahead. They would have taken a risk just going ahead and ignoring the community, but they take a risk by fully embracing the community as well, because you'll always endure some criticism or questions or objections or whatever.
"But they've very bravely and very considerately done it, and the community has responded very positively as a result." Cillian and Yvonne have reportedly been "extremely open" with the plans, adjusting them following public feedback.
© Sarah MorrisThe project is particularly close to the award-winning actor’s heart since he has a "long familial connection" with the area and used to visit the cinema with his family before it closed down in 2021.
According to Mr. McLoughlin, the Hollywood megastar has a property in the area, which he and his family visit regularly.
Cillian's quiet family life
Despite being one of the most sought-after actors in modern cinema, Cillian has always shunned the Hollywood lifestyle and prefers to lead a quiet life away from the spotlight.
© Alamy Stock PhotoAlthough the family was once based in London, Cillian and Yvonne decided to raise their sons, Malachy, 19, and Aran, 18, in Ireland.
We wanted them to be Irish, I suppose...It's amazing how quickly their accents have adapted,” he told The Guardian back in 2016.
"Even within a year of moving back, they are fading into this rakish west Brit kind of thing. Which I think, hopefully, will get them lots of girls when they're 15."
The talented thespian credits his wife for holding the family together when he’s away from home for long periods of time due to his demanding filming schedule.
"I have an amazing wife," he told told GQ in 2019. "I couldn't do this without her and her understanding. But it is a struggle. I think it is for any dad whose work takes him away, which it generally does, and which consumes him, which my work does."
