Entertainment

New publication charts history of Derry's celebrated St Columb's Hall

Derry's historic St Columb's Hall
Derry's historic St Columb's Hall Derry's historic St Columb's Hall

FOYLE Civic Trust has launched a new publication focusing on the history and heritage of St Columb's Hall in Derry.

The project looks at the inception of the hall, its built and cultural heritage and talks to some of the people who were involved in the life of the Hall over the years.

Iain Greenway, director of Historic Environment Division with the Department for Communities (DfC) which funded the project says:

"I am delighted that the Department has been able to support this research, through its Historic Environment Fund, into the history of one of the city's most important listed buildings. This will help to ensure that as the building is developed in future years, decisions will be based upon a clear understanding of its unique history.'

St Columb's Hall was constructed in 1886, built utilising donations from local people. Peter Tracey, chair of the Foyle Civic Trust, who researched and authored the booklet, says:

"Since its opening in 1888, the Hall has played a major role in the lives of over three generations of the people of this city. As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, it is imperative for the city that this architecturally and socially important building finds a new sustainable lease of life for the next 100 years."

Often called 'the people's hall, St Columb's Hall is grade A listed and located adjacent to Derry's historic East Wall. It was also venue of choice for some of the leading performers and public figures of the last 130 years, among them Eleanor Marx, daughter of Karl Marx, who spoke at the Hall in 1889 to encourage Derry workers to join their local union; Emmeline Pankhurst who campaigned for women's right to vote in a keynote speech at St Columb's Hall in 1910; Eamon De Valera, who rallied supporters during the War of Independence at the hall in 1924;

In December 1920 the British army used St Columb's Hall for several weeks as a barracks for hundreds of troops during a particularly bloody period in the city's history linked to the War of Independence; Derry tenors Josef Locke and John McCormick performed there regularly; music and singing stars Roy Orbison, Chubby Checker, Ruby Murray and Val Doonican also performed at St Columb's in the 1960s.

A new charitable organisation, the St Columb's Hall Trust, has been formed to redevelop and regenerate the hall.

:: The new publication is available at saintcolumbshall.com/history.