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 →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 →
- 1954–56
Built by the community and named for the Marian Year of 1954.
- Jan 1956
Officially opened with a performance of Oklahoma!
- 1960s–70s
Friday-night home of Ireland's top showbands, with bingo, table tennis and sport all week.
- 1970
Dana's first local appearance, days after winning Eurovision.
- 2020
Closed by the COVID-19 pandemic and dark for four years.
- Mar 2025
Reopened with a senior citizens' lunch. A new chapter begins.