Built in 1859 and opened in 1862, the hall's purpose was to provide the expanding city ofBelfast with a multi-purpose venue of sufficient size. It was designed by William J. Barre for the Ulster Hall Company. On its opening night on 12 May 1862, the hall was described by the local press as:
stand 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.
a music hall fit for the production of any composition, and for the reception of any artist, however eminent
In 1902 the hall was purchased by Belfast City Council for £13,500 and it has been used as a public hall ever since. During World War II it was used as a dance hall to entertain American troops stationed in Northern Ireland.
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. 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.
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. The paintings were restored in 1989 and again, by Kiffy Stainer-Hutchins & Co., King's Lynn, in 2009.
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.
The hall was the first venue in which Led Zeppelin performed their iconic song, "Stairway to Heaven" live, on 5 March 1971.
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.
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 tragic 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
Whole Lotta Led performed the entire "Led Zeppelin IV" album on 10 February 2002, during their "Led Zeppelin IV 30th Anniversary" tour.
Machine Head returned to headline the Ulster Hall in 2012. Their first gig outside the USA was in the same venue with Slayer in 1994
Muse performed the first of a string of intimate gigs billed as the "Psycho UK Tour" at the hall on 15 March 2015.
Westlife lead vocalist Shane Filan performed at the hall for his solo concert tour supporting his 2015 album Right Here in 2016.
Notable political rallies
Since its opening, the Ulster Hall has staged political rallies for many different causes, most notably:
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"
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. 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. The £8.5 million project included:
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
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 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 into circulation space, bar and café
The refurbishment was performed by Graham Building Contractors and was jointly funded by Belfast City Council, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The hall was reopened with a gala event on 6 March 2009. Previously stated as 1,850, the seated capacity of the refurbished hall is 1,000. Since the reopening, the hall has provided a rehearsal home and administrative offices for the Ulster Orchestra.
