History of the Ulster Hall

The Ulster Hall is a Victorian music hall designed by local architect William Barre and opened in 1862. It contains the world-famous Mulholland Grand Organ, which was donated to the city by local linen baron and former Lord Mayor Andrew Mulholland. 

In its first 50 years the Hall hosted Charles Dickens, Ellen Terry, Lord Randolph Churchill and many other significant performers. Throughout the Second World War it was extensively used as a dance hall for American troops billeted in Belfast. Since then the Ulster Hall has hosted major boxing champions, thousands of music concerts from classical to punk and dance, a huge variety of important events and performances including dances, lectures, readings and a rich tradition of dramatic performances in the Group Theatre. The building is currently home to the Ulster Orchestra, which rehearses and performs regularly in the Grand Hall. 

Following extensive refurbishment, the Ulster Hall reopened in 2009 with a foyer café, a purpose built gallery for our 13 oil paintings by Victorian artist Joseph Carey, and the redesigned Group Space gallery and performance space. Our successful education and outreach programme attracts hundreds of visitors a month through educational workshops, guided tours and small arts events. The building and collections are open to the public Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.