A Dublin cinema is being used for more than film screenings, with The Lighthouse Church holding a weekly Sunday service at the Santry Omniplex. The event highlights how religious groups are increasingly making use of large entertainment venues that already offer seating, screens and strong sound systems.
The service is described as a high-production gathering, with the kind of big audio and presentation values usually associated with cinema releases and live events. That blend of worship and venue technology appears to be part of what makes the experience stand out.
The visit to the Santry Omniplex forms part of a new series by journalist and spoken word artist Cormac Fitzgerald, who travels to different towns and suburbs to cover gigs and cultural experiences that often receive little mainstream attention. In this case, the focus is on what happens when a modern multiplex becomes a place for a Sunday congregation.
The result is a story about changing uses for familiar city spaces in Dublin, where a cinema can double as a community meeting point as well as a place for entertainment. It also reflects the wider appeal of accessible venues for groups looking to reach people in settings outside traditional churches.
