The Marian Hall, Kilrea, photographed in 1957

Kilrea · Est. 1956

At the heart of Kilrea
since 1956

A welcoming community hall for dancing, music, sport and celebration in the heart of Kilrea.

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The Marian Hall, 1957. Courtesy of the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums (JV-R-5276)

Our Story

A hall built by its community

Built between 1954 and 1956 and named for the Marian Year of 1954, the Marian Hall officially opened in January 1956 with a performance of the musical Oklahoma! From the very start it was a hall made for dancing. And dance it did.

From the 1960s the hall was one of the great Friday-night venues of the showband era. Joe Dolan, Big Tom and the Mainliners, Philomena Begley, the Miami Showband and Dickie Rock all graced its stage. In 1970, Dana made her first local appearance here on the Friday after winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Thursday-night bingo drew crowds from as far as Larne, Ballymena and Antrim, and the hall hosted everything from the Ulster Table Tennis Tournament to bowling, snooker, badminton, basketball and gymnastics.

Closed for four years by the COVID-19 pandemic, the hall reopened in March 2025 with a senior citizens' lunch. It has once again become a lively centre of local life, hosting dancing, indoor sports, concerts, pantomimes, health and wellbeing initiatives and community gatherings.

Share your memories of the hall with us →
A musician playing the accordion on stage at a live music night in the Marian Hall
  1. 1954–56

    Built by the community and named for the Marian Year of 1954.

  2. Jan 1956

    Officially opened with a performance of Oklahoma!

  3. 1960s–70s

    Friday-night home of Ireland's top showbands, with bingo, table tennis and sport all week.

  4. 1970

    Dana's first local appearance, days after winning Eurovision.

  5. 2020

    Closed by the COVID-19 pandemic and dark for four years.

  6. Mar 2025

    Reopened with a senior citizens' lunch. A new chapter begins.

The Hall

Space for every occasion

From family celebrations and fundraisers to weekly classes and live music nights, the Marian Hall offers a flexible, affordable venue in the centre of Kilrea.

A band performing on stage in the Marian Hall to a full seated audience

The Main Hall

A spacious hall with a stage, made for dancing, concerts, parties and community events.

Volunteers plating up traybakes and refreshments in the Marian Hall

Kitchen & Facilities

Catering facilities and everything you need to host your gathering with ease.

The main hall set up for a boxing event, with the ring in the centre and seating around it

Sport & Recreation

The hall has a long sporting tradition. From boxing, gymnastics, pilates to Irish Dancing, we can accommodate most sporting activities. Get in touch to see what we can do for you.

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What's On

Upcoming at the hall

15Aug 2026

The Bjorn Identity: ABBA Tribute Night

Ireland's top ABBA tribute show live at the Marian Hall. 8pm–11:30pm.

Get tickets on Eventbrite →

Community

What the hall means to Kilrea

“Placeholder: a quote from a local resident about what the hall means to them will go here.”

— A Kilrea resident

“Placeholder: a quote from someone who hired the hall for a celebration or event.”

— Event organiser

“Placeholder: a quote from a volunteer or committee member about the hall's future.”

— Hall volunteer

Find Us

In the heart of Kilrea

The Marian Hall is at 38 New Row, Kilrea, Coleraine BT51 5QL, a short walk from The Diamond in the town centre.

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