But there's still room for the odd film club to sneak in and screen movies not normally shown in major cinemas, films that might not have got a release here, or films that you'd just love to see again and on the big screen.

Cineworld's 17 screens give them ample opportunity to show all the major Hollywood releases and branch out into indie territory as well.

The Savoy's six screens limits their chances to show films that are off the beaten track, The Screen is limited further by having just three screens, while the IFI's two screens are dedicated to bringing the finest foreign films to this country. So it is to film clubs that we go to watch old movies or less mainstream productions.

Film clubs are sprouting up all over Dublin. Launched in March by actor/director Adrian Dunbar, The Progressive Film Club, under the banner of Access Cinema, is a voluntary organisation dedicated to showing progressive films from all over the world.

Located at The New Theatre, 43 East Essex Street, Dublin 2, it showcases films that document the struggles for workers' rights, immigrants, women, national liberation and social justice -- these are just some of the themes of the films the organisation has short listed, most of them never shown before in Ireland.

After screening I Saw Ben Barka Get Killed and Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation last month, The Progressive Film Club looks forward to showing the award-winning Days Of Glory (June 15th) which is based on a true story and shows the part played by Muslim soldiers fighting for the French during WWII.

Following that, Venezuela Bolivariana (June 29th) shows the evolution of the popular movement from the 'Caracazo' demonstrations of 1989 to the actions that brought the revolutionary president, Hugo Chávez, back to power 48 hours after a US-led coup in 2002. West Beyrouth (July 6th) and Water (July 13th) follow.

It's not all for the young, cool and hip, either. The IFI have their own little offshoot -- Wild Strawberries. It's a film club for the older generation (and is free of charge).

It kicked off on May 2nd with Grow Your Own and has Orchestra Seats, Ballets Russes and Me And My Gal lined up.

Further out of town is The Pictures, a monthly film club for over 55s. Launched in January by Ballymun and Dublin City Council's Arts Office, in association with The Irish Film Institute and Access Cinema, The Pictures screens one film per month.

Anne Marie Lyons, the North West Area Arts Officer, has been working on establishing a film club for older people and is delighted the progress the club has made.

"We decided to set up a film club for older people following the very positive response to the film screenings during the Bealtaine Festival for older people and Ballymun Positive Ageing Week last year," she says.

"We feel that the Pictures Film Club plays an exciting part in our extended arts service to city communities."

With a price tag of €4 per movie, and a mix of old classics (Casablanca) with soon-to-be classics (Little Miss Sunshine, The Lives Of Others), The Pictures membership promises to mushroom this summer.

And the film fun doesn't stop there. Dun Laoghaire's Movies In The Park will screen three days of outdoor films this summer -- for free.

Located in The People's Park, it will show popular classics and blockbusters. May 31 sees the kids animation Madagascar, followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Bourne Ultimatum. The next two days will see the likes of Monsters Inc., Spiderman 3 and Some Like It Hot.