Watch: YouTuber Discovers Haunting Remains of Arklow’s Ormonde Cinema

Arklow’s history is again in the spotlight as urban explorer and YouTuber Urban Shadows recently delved into the ruins of the abandoned Ormonde Cinema in the town. The site, partially destroyed in a fire on October 2, 2020, has since been left to decay, creating a hauntingly nostalgic atmosphere.

In his latest video, Urban Shadows takes viewers on a tour of the derelict structure, navigating its crumbling hallways, burned-out sections, and remnants of its former glory.

“This place was burnt down a long time ago, along with the buildings surrounding it,” he explains in the video.

“There’s not much left, mostly overgrown, but there are still some cool things in here.”

Despite the extensive damage, the cinema still holds traces of its past. Among the debris, the explorer found old soft drink cans, newspapers from 2005, and scattered furniture, offering eerie glimpses into a time when the venue was a bustling hub of entertainment.

“It’s like going back in time,” he remarks while panning the camera over the wreckage.

“Some people were just having a good time here 20 years ago.”

Perhaps the most dangerous part of the exploration was the precarious upstairs area. The structure has become so unstable that one of Urban Shadows’ friends nearly fell through the floor.

“Be careful in places like this,” he warns his viewers. “Learn from our mistakes.”

Among the more unusual finds was an old bed, still eerily intact, along with scattered book pages and more abandoned rooms. Throughout the video, the YouTuber highlights the unpredictable nature of urban exploration.

“You don’t know who you’re going to find in these places,” he says at one point after temporarily losing sight of his friends in the vast, labyrinthine remains of the cinema.

Eventually, he stumbles upon a significant discovery. A section still filled with rows of cinema seats and even old ticket stubs.

The grand, decayed setting captures the essence of what once was: a place where film lovers gathered to escape into stories on the big screen.

With parts of the building still standing but heavily deteriorated, the video serves as both a tribute to Arklow’s past and a stark reminder of how quickly time and neglect can erase once-thriving landmarks.

Wicklow County Council last year approved an application to redevlop the site of the Ormonde Cinema and surrounding lands in Arklow into 99 homes, a crèche and a new public amphitheatre.

You can watch the full video below.