The Ulster Hall in an empty Bedford Street, c. 1890
Built in 1859 and opened in 1862,[1] the hall's purpose was to provide the expanding city of Belfast with a multi-purpose venue of sufficient size. It was designed by William J. Barre (also responsible for the Albert Clock) for the Ulster Hall Company.
On its opening night on 12 May 1862, the hall was described by the local press as:
stand[ing] unexcelled, and all but unrivalled, as an edifice for the production of musical works. ... the hall is a great and unmingled success, and the public, no less than the proprietors, may feel the utmost gratification at a result at once so pleasant and so rare.(The Belfast News Letter, 1862)[2]
a music hall fit for the production of any composition, and for the reception of any artist, however eminent (The Northern Whig, 14 May 1862)[3]
In 1902 the hall was purchased by Belfast City Council (then named the Belfast Corporation) for £13,500 and it has been used as a public hall ever since.[4] During World War II it was used as a dance hall to entertain American troops stationed in Northern Ireland.[1]
Mulholland Grand Organ
The Ulster Hall features one of the oldest examples of a functioning classic English pipe organ. The Mulholland Grand Organ is named in honour of former Mayor of Belfast, Andrew Mulholland, who donated £3000 to the hall toward its cost in the 1860s.[5] It was built by William Hill & Son and donated after the hall was officially opened. In the late 1970s, the organ was extensively restored to Hill's own original design. Mullholland's great-great-grandson, Henry Mulholland, 4th Baron Dunleath, oversaw the restoration.[6]
Joseph Carey's Belfast scenes
In 1902, Belfast City Council commissioned the local artist Joseph W. Carey to produce thirteen scenes from Belfast history on canvas, to be mounted within the Ulster Hall. The scenes depict the city and the surrounding area, incorporating historical and mythological influences.[3][7]
The paintings were restored in 1989 and again, by Kiffy Stainer-Hutchins & Co., King's Lynn, in 2009 (see 2007–2009 refurbishment, below).
Notable performances
The hall has hosted a massive variety of acts during its history, including readings by Charles Dickens and performances by actors, pop, opera, rock acts and singers.[1][8]
AC/DC performing in 1979.
The Rolling Stones played at the hall in July 1964. They had only managed to play three songs before the gig was called off due to hysterical fans breaking up the show.
Rory Gallagher performed in the Ulster Hall numerous times throughout his career. Notably during the height of The Troubles in 1974.
Australian rock band AC/DC performed at the Ulster Hall in 1979.[9]
Gary Moore performed at the Ulster Hall in 1984 with Phil Lynott as a special guest, the event was filmed and included as part of the VHS tape Gary Moore - Emerald Aisles Live in Ireland.
Metallica played there in September 1986 with Anthrax, shortly before the death of bassist Cliff Burton.
Slayer played in September 1988 and returned to kick off their 1994 Divine Intervention European Tour supported by Machine Head with MTV's Headbangers Ball filming the event.
1995 – dissident loyalists called for an Orange economy for Northern Ireland, as well as the resignation of the then Orange Order Grand Master, the Rev. Martin Smyth
2002 – Sinn Féin staged a rally in the hall, at which 2,000 people joined to sing the Irish national anthem, "Amhrán na bhFiann"
Unionism
Ulster Hall has a longstanding historical association with Ulster unionism and from the late 19th century became the traditional venue for high-profile unionist rallies.[11][12] Ulster Hall has been described as an "iconic venue for unionism",[12] "synonymous with unionism",[13] a "bastion of Ulster unionism",[14] and the "birthplace of Ulster unionism".[15] The Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) held its first public meeting in the Ulster Hall in 1905.[15]
In early 1912 First Lord of the AdmiraltyWinston Churchill was invited to a rally on the subject of Irish Home Rule in Belfast at the behest of the Ulster Liberal Association.[12] The Ulster Unionist Council passed a resolution declaring the Liberals intent to hold the demonstration a "deliberate challenge" and resolved to "take steps to prevent it being held". Churchill published a letter in the press reluctantly conceding the Ulster Hall venue and after difficulties the meeting took place at Celtic Park.[12]
In November 1995 Sinn Féin during the Northern Ireland peace process organised a rally in Ulster Hall; it was the first time nationalists had used the venue. Unionists on Belfast city council were outraged and threatened to try to have the booking cancelled.[15] Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) group in the council, Sammy Wilson described the Sinn Fein event at Ulster Hall as a "deliberate attempt to rub unionists noses in the dirt".[13]
2009 refurbishment
In 2007, a major refurbishment plan was initiated by the Consarc Design Group, under the direction of architect and Everest mountaineer Dawson Stelfox.[8] The main aim of the refurbishment was to restore the venue back to its original condition, while also modernising the building's facilities and providing better disabled access.
Detail of the Ulster Hall's wrought-iron entrance canopy.
Refit and redecoration of the Grand Hall, including reopening the windows which had been covered since the 1980s
Installation of new removable seating on ground floor
Recreation of the original metal balcony balustrade and chandeliers
Installation of new roof, floors and a moveable stage extension
Installation of new high-specification sound, heating, lighting and air-conditioning systems
Upgrade of toilet facilities
New five-storey extension at the rear of the building, providing modern dressing rooms, education suites, meeting and administration facilities and the offices of the Ulster Orchestra
New box office facilities
Restoration of Joseph Carey's paintings of Belfast scenes (see above) and development of new dedicated new gallery space for their display
New interpretative display telling the history of the hall
Conversion of the adjoining minor hall (formerly the Group Theatre[16]) into circulation space, bar and café
Previously stated as 1,850,[18] the seated capacity of the refurbished hall is 1,000.[2] Since the reopening, the hall has provided a rehearsal home and (from June 2009) administrative offices for the Ulster Orchestra.[17]
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