News Archive

Half a century ago John Lennon sang ‘Give Peace a Chance’ at the same time barricades were erected in Belfast and radical student movement People’s Democracy marched for civil rights. From 16 – 27 September the Linen Hall remembers the People’s Democracy with memorabilia, posters and more. Against this turbulent…...

On Thursday 12 September at 3.30pm – 7.30pm a pre-eminent group of harpists and scholars will gather for one afternoon only in the Linen Hall Library to celebrate Bengal and Belfast coming together to champion the Irish harp on the bicentennial of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast (1819 –…...

A joint Women In The Archives exhibition from the Linen Hall Library and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), exploring hidden female voices and stories from across the centuries, has begun a tour of border venues, starting at Derry Central Library from Friday, July 26.  Women in the…...

Internationally renowned harpist Gráinne Hambly (pictured) will perform with the Harp Tour of Ireland in a special musical evening on Monday 5 August. On 9 August travel writer Paul Clements gives his humorous views on rambling around the back roads of Ireland. The schedule of August events in date order…...

In July the Linen Hall Library dives between the linen sheets and recounts the boom and bust tale of the Belfast linen industry with a new exhibition, Linenopolis, and series of linen-themed events.  The schedule of July events in date order is as follows:  Linenopolis 1 July – 31 August/…...

On Monday 1 July, the Linen Hall Library launches Linenopolis, a major, new exhibition celebrating, examining and spotlighting the historic social and industrial linen industry of Belfast and Northern Ireland. The exhibition and associated events and activities are funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland, Tourism NI and…...

The Linen Hall Library What’s On guide for July to September is now available. Pick up a copy in the Linen Hall, at various Belfast venues or through NI tourist information centres. Or download here.  ...

Today, with a few clicks, you can find directions to just about anywhere on the globe. But that wasn’t the case in yesteryear. From 5 – 26 June, the Linen Hall features the exhibition Mapping Urban Ireland which offers a fascinating window into the development of Irish towns over time.…...

Eamon McGuinness from Dublin was today announced as the winner of the prestigious Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. Eamon received a cheque for £2,000 and his story ’Nothing He Couldn’t Carry’ has been published in a limited-edition anthology entitled Nothing He Couldn’t Carry and Other Stories which is available to…...

Two-hundred-and-thirty-one years ago today the Linen Hall Library was founded by a group of ‘worthy plebians who would do honour to any town.’ Since then the Linen Hall has become synonymous with all that is of cultural importance in Belfast and Northern Ireland. Director Julie Andrews says: “It is of…...