- Patrician Hall
The Patrician Hall is a cultural, arts and entertainment venue in the village of
Carrickmore ,County Tyrone . Originally built in 1961, with voluntary labour and named afterSaint Patrick (that year being the 1500th anniversary of his death), the venue played host to many national and international stars includingLiam Neeson ,Roy Orbison ,Val Doonican ,The Wolfe Tones andThe Dubliners on many occasions. Fact|date=April 2008. ["http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/liam_neeson_biog.html"]The venue was also a focus of much political agitation throughout the conflict in Ireland; having played stage to many political and military figures. Fact|date=April 2008
After 40 years of constant use the Hall fell into disrepair and after a 'farewell' concert in 2003 it closed for 18 months for major renovation work, with much of that work and funding again coming from local volunteers. It reopened in 2005 with facilities including state of the art lighting, sound and technical specifications; retractable seating, bar and food service, events suite, floor capacity for 350 people seated or 600 standing, whilst retaining the atmosphere for which it became famous. Fact|date=April 2008
Since its re-opening artists such as Francis Black, Johnny McEvoy, Philomena Begley,
Ronnie Drew and the Wolfe Tones have played there. In 2006, The Patrician was featured in a BBC documentary regarding the Field Day Theatre Co. andStephen Rea , actor of stage and screen revisited the hall to take part in this. In 2007 the President of the Republic of Ireland,Mary McAleese , paid a visit as part of a tour of County Tyrone.Every March the Patrician Hall hosts the Mid-Ulster Drama festival, which showcases the best of amateur dramatics from venues throughout the island of
Ireland . Fact|date=April 2008References
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