One hundred and forty years ago, the people of Derry / Londonderry began building St Columb's Hall with their own money because they wanted a place that belonged to them. A place of incredible beauty that could be used to support creativity, learning, sport, debate and community gatherings.
Since then it has played a central role in the city's political, social and cultural life. Many well-known thinkers and performers have visited the Hall over the years including women’s right to vote campaigner Emmeline Pankhurst and Eamon de Valera who became Irish president. In recent years, Channel 4 TV series Derry Girls filmed the famous Hallowe’en episode where Fat Boy Slim performed at the Hall.
Today, only a third of the 45,000-square-foot building is useable. This project will open up the whole building so that it can become a shared space for everyone.
The first step was bringing the Grade A listed People’s Hall back into community ownership with St Columb’s Hall Trust using money raised by National Lottery players to purchase the building in summer 2026.
The project will also:
- undertake repairs to the roof, floors, stairs, doors, windows, outside walls and metalwork
- install new electrics, lighting, ventilation, alarms and IT systems
- make small internal changes and create a new rooftop terrace
- update the back-of-house and changing rooms to create a new ground-floor space with an exhibition area
- improve access and escape routes by updating the stairs and lift to make the building safer and more accessible
A heritage activity programme will reach 3,000 people and includes workshops for young people aged 16 to 25, people aged 65 and over, new communities and people with access or inclusion needs.
Conal McFeely, Chairperson, St Columb’s Hall Trust, said: “Bringing the Hall back into community ownership is keeping the original promise of this magnificent space. This is the People's Hall and over the coming years we intend to have every space within it repaired and re-opened for all of our community to enjoy once again.”
Four full-time equivalent jobs will be sustained while two apprenticeships and 15 volunteer roles will be created. By the time the project ends, the Trust will have created a further three full-time equivalent posts, two more apprenticeships and five additional volunteer roles.
Work is expected to start in spring 2027.
