Watch: Memories of Edendork dance hall as hundreds sign petition

Hundreds of people have signed a petition to save the iconic Edendork dance hall which will be demolished if plans for a new primary school are given the green light.Tuesday marked the final day for the submission of objections to the major planning application for Edendork Primary School which will be considered by Mid Ulster District Council.

Submitted back in February 2020 by the Department for Education NI (DENI), the plan will see a new 11 classroom complex built at the site of St Malachy’s Parochial Hall, also known as the Edendork dance hall.

And while the plan for a new building for Edendork Primary School has been in the pipepline for at least the last decade, a last ditch bid has been made to save the dance hall from demolition.

It’s understood that the hall – which belongs to St Patrick’s Parish in Dungannon – was closed more than 25 years ago, due to ongoing health and safety concerns with the building.

Over recent weeks photographs showing the stunning architecture have been posted on a popular local photography social media page, sparking lots of memories for those who attended the hall in their youth.

And this week, a coordinated campaign was launched urging education chiefs to find another site for the school.

The online petition, at ‘change.org’ reads, “Save Edendork Dance hall from demolition, planning has been submitted to demolish the hall for a new school on the site. This unique building is one of a kind in our country and it needs saved and preserved for future generations.

“Don’t let this be another Floral Hall. The ceilings in this hall are breath taking and we must not let this be knocked down. A school site can be found elsewhere.”

The campaign and petition is being organised by Rebecca Brownlie from Moira, who also runs the hugely popular website Abandoned NI, which documents old buildings across Ireland.

Speaking to the Dungannon Herald, Rebecca said the response to her petition and the comments posted on social media, reflected a real public desire to save the hall.

“I have photographed and documented old buildings across Ireland, but this is the first time that I have organised a petition like this,” she said.
“It is a magnificent hall and it is a building which we should be trying to save from demolition. It is very clear from the comments from the people in that area, that they want the building saved.

“The dance hall is a special building and we are hoping we can do something to stop it being demolished.”
One lady who responded to the online appeal, said, “This wonderful dance hall has to be saved. It is part of our local history and needs to be restored to its former glory and used for the community.

“I met my husband there in Jan 1967, we are married 53 years. A stunning building that needs kept and used. Could it not be at least included within plans for school, someone needs to use their imagination and don’t let this piece of history be lost forever.”

However, a number of local people raised the urgent need for a new building for Edendork Primary School.