Belfast rappers Kneecap’s new movie helped boost cinema spending for the month of August, according to a new survey. The latest Bank of Ireland Spending Pulse analyses debit and credit card spending from August 5 until August 18 reveals an increase in spending in sports clubs, beauty spas and cinemas. Hit movies such as Kneecap and Deadpool & Wolverine hitting Irish movie theatres in late summer meant that cinema spending spiked by 10 per cent when compared to a similar two-week period in 2023.
READ MORE: Award-winning Kneecap film trailer drops ahead of Irish cinema release READ MORE: Kneecap discuss becoming "best friends" with Noel Gallagher as rap trio's film set for release Others opted for outdoor pursuits instead, with spending in sports clubs (GAA, Soccer, Tennis) increasing by 50 per cent, boat rentals by 23 per cent, campsites and trailer parks by 14 per cent and amusement parks up 9 per cent during the same period. Jilly Clarkin, Head of Customer Journeys & SME Markets at Bank of Ireland said: “It’s a long summer for a lot of families and the struggle to constantly keep children entertained is real! With that in mind and following a spell of Irish weather that could only be described as average at best, it is not surprising to see spending in sports clubs and cinemas spike during August, and the general uptick in consumer outlay provided a welcome boost for businesses across Ireland. “Those who pitched their tents or bundled into mobile homes in campsites n.