Discover some of Belfast’s Blue Plaques on this city centre walking tour. Placed by Ulster History Circle, each plaque marks the home or workplace of a famous historic person in The Linen Hall area.
During the 1800s Belfast and its surrounding towns exploded with industry. One of the most significant industries of that time was the linen industry. Discover the history of Belfast’s linen trade on this city-centre walking tour. Many buildings in The Linen Hall area reflect the city’s past as a global industrial hub of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
We are thrilled to announce a special one-night-only performed reading of the acclaimed Belfast Shipyard play 'The Boat Factory’, brought back to life by the original cast - Dan Gordon and Michael Condron. The proceeds from this event will directly contribute to the support of The Linen Hall.
Discover some of Belfast’s Blue Plaques on this city centre walking tour. Placed by Ulster History Circle, each plaque marks the home or workplace of a famous historic person in The Linen Hall area.
During the 1800s Belfast and its surrounding towns exploded with industry. One of the most significant industries of that time was the linen industry. Discover the history of Belfast’s linen trade on this city-centre walking tour. Many buildings in The Linen Hall area reflect the city’s past as a global industrial hub of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Lisa Fitzpatrick and Shonagh Hill published Plays by Women in Ireland 1926-1933: Feminist Theatres of Freedom and Resistance (Methuen, 2022), a collection of five plays by women writing in the first decade of the Irish Free State. Lisa and Shonagh will share the experience of researching, retrieving, and publishing unpublished or ‘lost’ play scripts from archival sources, and explore the process of staging Olga Fielden’s 1948 play Witches in Eden, reflecting upon the dramaturgical choices made in reviving a play from 75 years ago.
Join us for an evening of performances and reflections as we pay tribute to playwright Jo Egan. Alongside contributions from Gerri Moriarty, Moyra Donaldson, and Fionnuala Kennedy, there will be an opportunity to view items from Jo’s archive, which is part of The Linen Hall’s Theatre and Performing Arts Archive.
Join us for the launch of Dirty Linen, Martin Doyle’s latest book. Martin offers a personal, intimate history of the Troubles seen through the microcosm of a single rural parish, his own, part of both the Linen Triangle – heartland of the North’s defining industry – and the Murder Triangle – the Badlands devastated by paramilitary violence. He lifts the veil of silence drawn over the horrors of the past, recording in heartrending detail the terrible toll the conflict took – more than twenty violent deaths in a few square miles – and the long tail of trauma it has left behind.
Join us for a captivating talk by Feargal Cochrane as he delves into his insightful book, Belfast. Uncover the intricate layers of this city's history, transcending its well-known conflicts. From maritime beginnings to linen industry prominence and radicalism, Belfast's journey is one of innovation. Cochrane offers fresh perspectives, illustrating how religion, culture, and politics have woven the fabric of thought, action, and voting in the city. Discover the enduring influence of Belfast's past on its present and future.
Virgil’s Aeneid is an epic masterpiece that has sparked creativity across generations. Join Classics scholar, Lynn Gordon, as she illuminates the profound impact of Virgil's work on Seamus Heaney. Discover how Heaney's poem 'Route 110' from his collection Human Chain is interwoven with Virgil's influence. Through insightful analysis, Gordon unravels the threads that connect these literary giants, shedding light on why Heaney found solace and guidance in Virgil’s words that helped him negotiate his own personal and political dilemmas.
This year, The Linen Hall is proud to mark the Ulster-Scots Language Week with an evocative poetry reading event. Six distinguished poets—Robert Campbell, Angeline King, Ronnie McIlhatton, Anne McMaster, Alan Millar, and Morna Sullivan—are coming together to take us on a journey of words and emotions. Join us for a celebration of the Ulster-Scots heritage and talent.
With the support of the Ulster-Scots Agency, The Linen Hall organised its third Ulster-Scots Writing Competition last summer. The two competition categories were prose and poetry. The winner and one
The Linen Hall (Belfast Library And Society For Promoting Knowledge) is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 104 564.
