Edendork Dance Hall

The popularity of dance halls in Ireland surged in the post-World War II era, but they reached their peak in the 1960s and 1970s. They quickly became cultural hubs for socialisation and entertainment, and many of them mostly hosted showbands. These bands originated in Ireland and typically consisted of around six to ten musicians who performed a variety of genres.

One such dance hall was located in the rural village of Edendork, just outside the town of Dungannon. This once-thriving spot was known as Edendork Dance Hall.

It first opened its doors in September 1950, not as a dance venue, but as a parochial hall, which was a community hub intended to serve the local population. It was called St. Malachy’s Parochial Hall or Edendork Parochial Hall. At the time, Edendork was the oldest outpost parish of Dungannon, and the new parochial hall was dedicated to St. Malachy by Parish Priest Rev. Mgr. T. Dean during the opening ceremony.

The hall’s construction had been a community effort that had come to fruition about a year before the grand opening. A small committee had been formed and local volunteers dedicated every available hour to construct the building. Parochial halls were very common in Ireland at the time; these halls were typically constructed by local parishes to host community events, meetings, and social activities.

An article in the Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner from 2 September 1950 read: “People required recreation, especially the young people and their splendid new hall would be a great source of enjoyment to them all. It was their own hall and a place where they could gather together and develop and plan everything that was good and useful for the welfare of the parish.”

In the years that followed, St. Malachy’s Parochial Hall was pivotal to community activities. The hall was frequently used for various gatherings and events that brought the small community of Edendork together. However, the dance hall’s history wasn’t without incident. In 1954, it was broken into by three youths who stole “three dozen mineral and a crate” worth £3.

But it was in the following decade that the hall’s role within the community began to dramatically change.  By June 1963, the focus the hall had shifted from community purposes to include entertainment. The community had recognised the growing demand for social and cultural activities, and the hall was officially transformed into Edendork Dance Hall.

The official opening of the dance hall took place on Saturday, the 16th of June 1963, bringing in a new chapter in its history. The occasion was marked with a performance by the Dungannon Musical Society, who presented The Pirates of Penzance. The opera performed for four days, following which an opening dance was held on the Thursday night. Majestic Showband performed on the stage, and dancing began at 9PM.

The grand opening had come after the dance hall was rebuilt to the cost of £3,000. It was built in an Art Deco style just across the road from the Church of St. Malachy and stood at 100 feet by 30 feet. The architects were Dominic Rafferty and W. H. McEvoy, who included the installation of a striking glass ceiling dome and seating to accommodate 800. Rev. Dr. William Conway, Bishop of Neve, said he “hoped the new hall would have a cultural influence for good, sound and healthy entertainment in the area.”

An article in the Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner read: “The fine stone work of the outer walls, the magnificent woodwork, the colour scheme, seating and furnishings were transcended by the magnificent dome and chandelier. The really careful planning, fine craftsmanship and exquisite good taste were in keeping with a parish of the importance of Edendork.”

But not everybody was as pleased with the design of the building. In the 1979 book “North West Ulster” by Alistair Rowan, the author said that the dance hall was “possibly the ugliest building in Ulster and an astonishing example of how not to build in an open countryside. A sea of tarmac and an inane façade like a 1930s fireplace.”

Over the years, the dance hall hosted many showbands, operas, and pantomimes. Many familiar faces passed through the doors, including, the Merseybeats, Mud, Johnny Tillotson, and Tom Jones who performed in 1967.

In February 1972, a group named the New Chips took the centre stage. However, a fight broke out when the group were asked to play The Men Behind the Wire, a song about prisoners in Northern Ireland. The group said they couldn’t play the song simply because they hadn’t practised it before, causing a number of youths to launch themselves on the stage and damage the group’s instruments.

One visitor of the Edendork Dance Hall recalled: “The first dance I ever went to was in the ballroom which was designed for a maximum crowd of 600. That night, there were 2,500 at St. Malachy’s Hall, Edendork, listening to The Royal Showband. It was an unforgettable experience.” Another visitor, Kevin Hughes, missed the bus and arrived late when Tom Jones was performing. He recollected: “The place was crammed to the doors with dozens more milling around the front entrance. I couldn’t get in!”

Over the years, Edendork Dance Hall faced the challenges that many similar venues encountered as the landscape of entertainment shifted. As larger, more modern venues emerged in bigger towns and cities, the popularity of traditional dance halls like Edendork began to dwindle.

While some sources say it officially closed its doors in the early 2000s, signs of life lingered in the building for several more years. Flyers for an event dated 2014 were discovered when we explored the building, and videos of a performance from 2012 still circulate online.

However, by 2022, the condition of the building had deteriorated significantly. There was severe water damage which had rendered the structure beyond repair, leading to a decision that marked the end of an era for the Edendork community.

In July of that year, Hamilton Architects submitted permission for Edendork Dance Hall to be demolished on behalf of the applicant, Edendork Primary School. They wanted to build a new 11-classroom primary school which would include a multi-purpose dining and sports hall, flexible teaching and staff rooms, resource areas and toilet facilities “designed to the highest sustainable and environmental standards.”

The request was met with a wave of criticism from locals and Ulster Architectural Heritage who said that the dance hall was of significant architectural and historic interest. They said that the building was an important landmark and an opportunity to provide space for the arts. However, following a consultation with the Department for Communities historical environmental division, the dance hall was not deemed to be of “significant or special architectural and historical interest to justify listing.”

Despite a petition to save Edendork Dance Hall, in June of 2024 Edendork Primary School was given a funding boost by Education Minister Paul Givan and it was announced that the demolition was proceeding, and the new school was indeed going to be built on the grounds.

Edendork Dance Hall was demolished in October 2024.

Interior Pics:

Exterior Pics:

The Dance Hall from above: