The EYE Cinema in Galway has temporarily closed after heavy rain caused extensive damage to the building yesterday.
The cinema says that due to "unforeseen structural damage" the facility will be closed until further notice.
It is thought an accumulation of water following heavy rain throughout yesterday, caused a portion of the roof to collapse shortly before 6pm.
The building was evacuated and one woman was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Gardaí and fire service personnel attended the scene.
Galway’s Chief Fire Officer Gerry O’Malley paid tribute to cinema staff for acting quickly when the problems first became apparent.
He said a film was being shown on Screen 8 when it was noticed that water was leaking into the building.
Audience members were taken from the area in question and soon afterwards a "deluge of water entered the building with massive force".
The ferocity was such that it uprooted seating from the cinema floor and blew out an emergency exit.
Mr O'Malley said that were it not for the actions of cinema staff in moving patrons in a timely fashion, there could have been serious injuries.
One unit of the Galway Fire Brigade, along with a hydraulic platform, was deployed to assess the damage.
Given the extent of the structural damage, it is likely that a significant volume of water inundated the premises.
A section of external cladding came away from the facade of the building, causing damage to a number of cars in an adjacent parking area.
The EYE Cinema has asked people with bookings for screenings not to attend the facility at present.
Work is ongoing this morning to assess the scale of the damage to the building at the Wellpark Retail park, on the Dublin Road in Galway.
