The Linen Hall

02/09/2026

Liberty: USA-NI 250 Poetry Jukebox Launch
Wednesday 9th September, 1pm - 2pm, £5.00

The Linen Hall has commissioned ten poets to respond to the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence as part of a new Poetry Jukebox curation.

The curation broadly explores the theme of migration – home, language, culture, religion, patriotism, protest, freedom, independence, equality, liberty, and unalienable rights.

To launch this edition of the Poetry Jukebox, Curator Maria McManus will chair a discussion with poets Kathleen McCracken, Paul Maddern and others in the curation.

To learn more and to book, please visit: https://linenhall.com/event/liberty-usa-ni250-poetry-jukebox/

The Linen Hall has commissioned ten poets to respond to the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence as part of a new Poetry Jukebox curation. The curation broadly […]

02/09/2026

Franklin, Hillsborough and the Seeds of Independence
1pm – 2pm, Wednesday, 16 September
£5.00

In this talk, David Orr, Castle and Collections Manager at Hillsborough Castle, explores Benjamin Franklin’s visit to Ireland in 1771, his relationship with Lord Hillsborough and the impact that this had on relations between the colonies and Britain, leading to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.

This pivotal meeting between two international statesmen laid the foundations for Hillsborough Castle’s key role in backstage diplomacy, a role that continues today.

To learn more and to book, please visit: https://linenhall.com/event/franklin-hillsborough-and-the-seeds-of-independence/

In this talk, David Orr, Castle and Collections Manager at Hillsborough Castle, explores Benjamin Franklin’s visit to Ireland in 1771, his relationship with Lord Hillsborough and the impact that this […]

01/09/2026

Win £500!
Have your Ulster-Scots poem or prose entry with us by 5pm today for your chance to win our creative writing competition, in partnership with the Ulster-Scots Agency.

For full entry details please visit: https://linenhall.com/ulster-scots-writing-competition-2026

31/08/2026

28/08/2026

Deadline For Entry Is Tuesday 1 September 2026 At 5pm!
There will be two competition categories, one for prose and one for poetry.

The winner for each section will receive £500 and one runner-up for each section will receive £250.

To learn more and for full entry guidelines, please visit: https://linenhall.com/ulster-scots-writing-competition-2026/

EVERYBODY KENS A WEE BIT O’ ULSTER-SCOTS AND THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET CREATIVE WITH IT! With the support of the Ulster-Scots Agency, The Linen Hall will be hosting […]

26/08/2026

Nourish: Working with the Seasons for Your Wellbeing (Autumn)
25th September, 1pm - 2pm, £6 – £7.50

Join nutritionist Jane McClenaghan for a series of lunchtime sessions exploring the natural cycle of the year to help optimise your nutrition for each season.

To learn more please visit: https://linenhall.com/.../nourish-working-with-the.../


Vital Nutrition

24/08/2026

🏛️ Join in the celebration with European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) 2026, Northern Ireland's annual festival of local architecture, history and culture!

Taking place throughout September, EHOD 2026 offers hundreds of free opportunities to explore hidden gems, discover fascinating stories and enjoy unique experiences across Northern Ireland.

Find out what's on:

📱 Web App: European Heritage Open Days
📖 Digital Brochure: European Heritage Open Days 2026
🌐 Discover Northern Ireland: European Heritage Open Day Northern Ireland | Discover NI
🏛️ DfC EHOD Webpage: European Heritage Open Days | Department for Communities

The Linen Hall will be taking part and offering free tours of the library at 11am and 2pm on Friday 11 September.

To learn more, please visit: https://linenhall.com/event/library-tours-for-european-heritage-open-days-4/

Please note: While all EHOD events are free to attend, some require advance booking to manage numbers.

24/08/2026

The American Declaration of Independence: American and Ulster Contexts, Links and Legacies
Thursday 27th August, 1pm - 2pm, £5.00

The Belfast News-Letter, the oldest continuously published English-language daily newspaper in the world, reported the American Declaration of Independence as a contemporary event. The Linen Hall is privileged to hold the volume of the News-Letter containing the Declaration from August 1776. At this talk marking USA-NI 250 The Linen Hall’s Librarian, Samantha McCombe, will explore the printing of the Declaration, reporting of and reactions to independence, local connections to this momentous period of history, and its enduring influence on The Linen Hall.

To learn more please visit: https://linenhall.com/event/the-american-declaration-of-independence-at-the-linen-hall/

The Belfast News-Letter, the oldest continuously published English-language daily newspaper in the world, reported the American Declaration of Independence as a contemporary event. The Linen Hall is privileged to hold […]

24/08/2026

The American Declaration of Independence: American and Ulster Contexts, Links and Legacies
Tuesday 25th August, 1pm - 2pm, £5.00

Join us for a panel discussion exploring the background and motivations that led to the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. The panel will discuss the Ulster connections to the Declaration and explore the legacy that the document has created within the United States, Ulster and in a global setting. Chair Dr Frank Ferguson of Ulster University will be joined by Professor Andrew Holmes (Queen’s University Belfast), Heidi McAlpin (Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund), Paul McGuigan (Northern Star Pictures) and Alderman Aaron Callan (Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council).

To learn more please visit: https://linenhall.com/event/the-american-declaration-of-independence-american-and-ulster-contexts-links-and-legacies/

Join us for a panel discussion exploring the background and motivations that led to the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. The panel will discuss the Ulster connections to […]

24/08/2026

50 years ago in 1976, Downtown Radio hit the airwaves. A new book, by Ivan Martin and John Rosborough tell the story of the station and the broadcasters that made Downtown Radio such a success.

Many thanks to Ivan and John who visited us and donated a copy to the library.

‘It was a pleasure to meet with Ivan and John to talk about the fascinating social and cultural insights captured in their book charting the history of Downtown Radio as it marks its 50th anniversary. We are always delighted to receive donations to enrich our local studies collections, and It Brought a Smile to Your Ear is a great addition which I am sure will be well used now and in the future.’ Samantha McCombe, Librarian, The Linen Hall

‘We are delighted to donate this book to The Linen Hall. Issued to coincide with Downtown’s Radio’s 50th Birthday, the book tells the story from the beginning of Radio in Belfast as far back as 1924, to the arrival of Independent Local Radio as an alternative to the BBC, the preparations for the launch on March 16th, 1976, and the five decades that followed right through to the present day.

Both Ivan and I know the station from the inside; Ivan was the host of the breakfast programme ‘First Edition’ with Richard Young over two decades, and I was the Head of Programming for 21 years up to the year 2000.

We met a range of former Downtown people, who shared recollections of their days in Newtownards when the station provided a fast and reliable news service in what were difficult times, along with the entertainment needed as a counterbalance to lift the mood of the audience.’ - John Rosborough, Author of ‘It Brought A Smile To Your Ear’