Forum Waterford
Encyclopedia
Forum Waterford, The Glen, Waterford City is one of South East Ireland
's premier entertainment venues.
The premises originally opened as 'The Regal' in 1937 and operated as a 1,500 seated cinema
up to the 70's, after which bingo
became its mainstay.
Purchased by a local company, Coherent Enterprises Ltd, it was extensively refurbished during the second half of the 80's and was transformed into a 1,200 seated modern concert hall, which opened as 'The Forum' in 1990.
The following decade it played host to the top touring acts including: Johnny Cash
, The Corrs
, David Gray
, Van Morrison
, Christy Moore
, Billy Connolly
, and many more.
In 1998 an adjoining licensed premises was purchased by the Company, which eventually was converted into a modern off-licence and became part of the national 'Next Door' group.
During the millennium year major renovation
s again took place with Forum Waterford that created a multi-purpose venue downstairs and a separate theatre
space upstairs, with the aim of the premises being more versatile. Late Club nights were added to the regular shows and bingo sessions there.
A third renovation programme was undertaken by Coherent Enterprises Ltd in 2006/7 which saw the installation of a full kitchen
downstairs to add food to the drink and entertainment elements of the business and downstairs was converted into a fine dining 160 seated restaurant
with a small stage. The upstairs venue was then solely used for the bingo sessions, live shows and club nights.
Due to the economic downturn in 2008 the restaurant ceased trading and that space is currently being used as a venue for a comedy club
and private parties.
Catering to both young and old, Forum Waterford offers diverse entertainment weekly and it has been host to the very best of Irish and International Musicians, DJ's, Comedians, Theatrical Productions as well as running weekly bingo sessions and its resident Saturday late night Indie club, 'Traffik'.
Coherent Enterprises Ltd. is owned and operated by its directors, Ciaran O'Neill (Managing) and Siobhan O'Neill.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
's premier entertainment venues.
The premises originally opened as 'The Regal' in 1937 and operated as a 1,500 seated cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
up to the 70's, after which bingo
Bingo (Non-US)
Bingo or housey-housey or housie is a gambling game that began in Italy in the 1500s. The game is believed to have migrated to France, Great Britain, and other parts of Europe in the 1700s...
became its mainstay.
Purchased by a local company, Coherent Enterprises Ltd, it was extensively refurbished during the second half of the 80's and was transformed into a 1,200 seated modern concert hall, which opened as 'The Forum' in 1990.
The following decade it played host to the top touring acts including: Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, The Corrs
The Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
, David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
, Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
, and many more.
In 1998 an adjoining licensed premises was purchased by the Company, which eventually was converted into a modern off-licence and became part of the national 'Next Door' group.
During the millennium year major renovation
Renovation
Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
s again took place with Forum Waterford that created a multi-purpose venue downstairs and a separate theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
space upstairs, with the aim of the premises being more versatile. Late Club nights were added to the regular shows and bingo sessions there.
A third renovation programme was undertaken by Coherent Enterprises Ltd in 2006/7 which saw the installation of a full kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
downstairs to add food to the drink and entertainment elements of the business and downstairs was converted into a fine dining 160 seated restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
with a small stage. The upstairs venue was then solely used for the bingo sessions, live shows and club nights.
Due to the economic downturn in 2008 the restaurant ceased trading and that space is currently being used as a venue for a comedy club
Comedy club
A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...
and private parties.
Catering to both young and old, Forum Waterford offers diverse entertainment weekly and it has been host to the very best of Irish and International Musicians, DJ's, Comedians, Theatrical Productions as well as running weekly bingo sessions and its resident Saturday late night Indie club, 'Traffik'.
Coherent Enterprises Ltd. is owned and operated by its directors, Ciaran O'Neill (Managing) and Siobhan O'Neill.