Ceremony takes place to give West Belfast Orange Hall a new royal title

By Graeme Cousins
Published 19th Jan 2023, 13:33 BST
Updated 19th Jan 2023, 15:14 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
A renaming ceremony to give West Belfast Orange Hall a new royal title took place last night.

The Orange hall on the Shankill Road – also known as ‘The Shankill Citadel’ and ‘The West’ – will now be known as West Belfast Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Orange Hall.

The new name was conferred on the hall by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Belfast Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle at the request of the hall’s board of trustees.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She was welcomed to the hall along with her husband by a Lambeg drummer on a night which included a host of dignitaries from the loyal orders.

The new plaque at West Belfast Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Orange HallThe new plaque at West Belfast Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Orange Hall
The new plaque at West Belfast Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Orange Hall

The backdrop to the evening was an old banner found in a roofspace by a local businessmen and refurbished to mark the 125th anniversary of the West Belfast Orange Hall.

Read More
Orange hall will be renamed in memory of late Queen Elizabeth II

Chairman of board of trustees, Rev Dr William Malcolmson, said: “Her Late Majesty’s memory is held in the highest regard by all associated with our hall. As trustees, this is the greatest tribute that we can pay in recognition of her exemplary life of service to our nation and the Commonwealth, to rename our hall in her honour.

“As Defender of the Faith, her Christian commitment was central to her life and was a guiding light in her challenging role. We give thanks to Almighty God for her wonderful example of life-long Christian devotion.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Invited guests at the rededication and renaming ceremony of West Belfast Orange HallInvited guests at the rededication and renaming ceremony of West Belfast Orange Hall
Invited guests at the rededication and renaming ceremony of West Belfast Orange Hall

Mr William Humphrey, secretary of the board of trustees, added: “The trustees and members of the Hall Management Committee are deeply grateful to His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle that this honour has been conferred on our hall, at the start of our 125th anniversary year.

“This historic event will be the first of many planned to mark this significant milestone in the hall’s history. The hall has been a mainstay of the Greater Shankill community throughout that time and now, in our own way, we will also perpetuate the memory of our late beloved Queen for future generations.”

West Belfast Orange Hall was officially opened on 22nd April 1898 by Mrs RJ McConnell and was dedicated by the then County Grand Master of Belfast, Bro. Rev. Dr. Richard Rutledge-Kane MA, LL.D.