Olympia Theatre (Dublin)

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The Olympia, Dublin's oldest surviving theatre, was built in 1879. First known as 'The Star of Erin', it was renamed Dan Lowrey's Music Hall in 1881, and as Dan Lowrey's Palace of Varieties in 1889. In 1897 it was rebuilt as 'The Empire Theatre of Varieties'. Its place in history was assured when on 20 April 1896 it had the honour of showing the first film in Ireland. Known as the Olympia Theatre since 1923, it was closed in 1972 for five years while the whole building was restored. Re-opened in 1977, it is once again one of Dublin's favourite theatres.
The theatre is mentioned in the 'Wandering Rocks' episode of Ulysses. As Leneham and M'Coy walk down Dame Street they pass "Dan Lowry's music hall where Marie Kendall, charming soubrette, smiled on them from a poster a dauby smile."

www.olympia.ie