Northern Ireland

Historic St Columb's Hall to be base for new Derry cultural quarter

Emily Pankhurst and Eoin MacNeill were among historical figures to address meetings at St Columb's Hall in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Emily Pankhurst and Eoin MacNeill were among historical figures to address meetings at St Columb's Hall in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Emily Pankhurst and Eoin MacNeill were among historical figures to address meetings at St Columb's Hall in Derry. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

A Derry hall that has hosted figures as diverse as suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst and US singer Jim Reeves is to be restored as part of plans for a new 'cultural quarter'.

A charitable trust will lead the multi-million-pound redevelopment of St Columb’s Hall.

Situated on the historic city walls, between the modern Foyleside and Richmond shopping centres, it hopes to persuade the neighbouring Millennium Forum theatre to work with it in creating a cultural hub.

Now owned by the Garvan O’Doherty Group, St Columb’s was built in 1886 as a Catholic temperance hall to combat the evils of drunkenness.

Since then, it has been a backdrop to the political and cultural history of the city.

Its first political use was in 1910 when British political activist Emmeline Pankhurst addressed a meeting demanding votes for women.

Suffragette leader Emily Pankhurst
Suffragette leader Emily Pankhurst Suffragette leader Emily Pankhurst

Four years later Eoin MacNeill addressed a 2,500-strong Sinn Fein recruitment rally in the hall, although only 10 actually joined the party.

A leader of the Irish Volunteers, in 1916 he would try to stop the Easter Rising by placing a counter-order in a Sunday newspaper.

1916 leader Eoin MacNeill
1916 leader Eoin MacNeill 1916 leader Eoin MacNeill

With trouble raging at the height of the War of Independence, the hall was commandeered by the British army as a barracks in 1920.

However, it was as a cultural venue that St Columb’s Hall became best known.

Singers to perform over the years range from Count John McCormack to Roy Orbison, Val Doonican, The Clancy Brothers and Jim Reeves.

In 1962, the running of the hall was given over to a young curate, Fr Edward Daly, later to become bishop of Derry.

He embarked on the hugely successful 'Sunday Night Variety Shows', booking many famous names including the legendary Frank Carson.

Frank Carson. Picture by John Stillwell/PA Wire
Frank Carson. Picture by John Stillwell/PA Wire Frank Carson. Picture by John Stillwell/PA Wire

In recent years the hall has fallen largely out of use as the purpose-built Millennium Forum theatre took over.

A spokesman for the Garvan O’Doherty Group said the planned new cultural hub would be spearheaded by a charitable company which would include the city’s Hollywell Trust and Walled City Music.

“The partnership will engage with other stakeholders to renovate and upgrade the physical infrastructure of St Columb’s Hall and also develop a range of programmes to ensure long-term sustainability."

The spokesman said the partnership hoped to recruit the Millennium Forum in its wider plans for the Orchard Street end of Derry.

A project director is to be appointed within the next month, with a business plan for the hall to be completed within six months.