The owner of Century Cinemas in Letterkenny, Mark Doherty, has revealed how he fell in love with the silver screen after watching Star Wars.
Mr Doherty told Donegal Daily how he first began working in cinemas at the grand old age of just 12 years.
And he revealed how it was the original Star Wars movie which drew him to a career in the cinema business.
“My first job was at the ripe old age of 12 when I got a job as an usher at the old Palace Cinema in Derry.
“The original Star Wars movie ran for six weeks and I watch it every day for six weeks.
“That’s when I fell in love with cinema so I suppose you could say Stars Wars was to blame,” laughed Mark.
Mark was speaking at last night’s first showing of The Last Jedi which was shown at 12.01am to an audience of more than 200 invited guests.
Mark revealed how he watched the original Star Wars movie at home a number of times this week on DVD to catch up with days gone by.
“I still remember those days in the Palace. It was mayhem. There was just one screen and there were more than 800 people in the audience.
“It’s amazing how it has come so far and here we are tonight watching one of the first showings of the film. It’s a great occasion,” added Mark.
It’s a long time since Mark ripped up tickets in the Palace and showed people to their seats.
But last night he was at it again and you will find him most nights getting stuck in, be it serving popcorn or helping people to their seats.
It’s that work ethic and down-to-earth approach which has made Century Cinemas the success it is today.
That and the fact that the ‘Force’ has always been woth Mark Doherty!
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