The courthouse in Tinahely was built in 1843, but by the 1950s it was used as much for community activities such as dances and movies as for court sessions. By the 1980s it had fallen into complete disrepair and disuse, and had become, moreover, a serious eyesore in the village; so a local committee formed to take on the task of restoring the building.

With the aid of grants from FAS (the Training and Employment Authority) which enabled hiring and training local youths to carry out the work, and local fundraising for the cost of materials, the courthouse was restored in time to open as a centre for arts, culture and heritage in January, 1996.

The Courthouse Arts Centre is now at the heart of the Tinahely community. We are funded by the Arts Council and Wicklow County Council, and with their support we can operate as a not-for-profit arts centre, dedicated to artistic excellence and actively nurturing the creative and cultural life of this region.

Our events are attended by local audiences but also, importantly, from a large catchment area that encompasses Wicklow, parts of Wexford, Carlow, Kildare and Dublin.

We welcome visitors and locals alike to sample our varied programme of arts and cultural events including musical and theatre performances, visual arts exhibitions and installations, and arthouse and foreign cinema.

As a cultural and heritage venue, we invite artists and touring performers to think of us as an exciting presentation space for their work. Explore our website for technical information and contact details pertaining to each discipline.