New history of St Columb’s Hall published

The project, the brainchild of the Foyle Civic Trust, looks at the inception of the hall, its built and cultural heritage and talks to some of the people who were involved in its story over the years.

St Columb’s Hall has been an intrinsic piece of the cultural, architectural and historical fabric of Derry City since 1886.

Built from donations from local people, it retains a deep connection to the local community.

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 the East Wall of the city’s historic Walls.

It was also the venue of choice for some of the world’s most iconic performers and notaries over the last 130 years.

Eleanor Marx, daughter of Karl Marx, spoke at the Hall in 1889 to recruit the local workers to join their local union.

Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst campaigned for women’s right to vote in a keynote speech at St Columb’s Hall in 1910.

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.

Eamon De Valera rallied supporters at the Hall in 1924.

Tenors Josef Locke and John McCormick regularly performed at the hall while leading international performers such as Roy Orbison, Chubby Checker, Ruby Murray and Val Doonican also performed there in the 1960s.

A new charitable organisation, the St Columb’s Hall Trust, has been formed to redevelop and regenerate the historic building.

Iain Greenway, Director of the Historic Environment Division at the Department of Communities, 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.”

The new publication, which is funded by the Department of Communities, is available at saintcolumbshall.com/history