The vision presented by the Butt Hall Committee has now become a reality on Main Street in Ballybofey with the opening of the new €6m Butt Hall complex.
During its two year construction, the structure has gradually emerged from below ground level to take on the dramatic and modern façade of a new landmark building in the Twin Towns. Inside the building combines an imaginative design with the very latest technology to produce a truly wonderful complex. The Butt Hall Centre as it will now be known combines commercial spaces and the hall/theatre spaces connected by a two storey atrium between. The building has been carefully developed to maximise its use and to benefit all people from the local district and beyond.
The concept for this building was advanced by the Committee based on core elements of sustainability and accessibility. The Committee were determined not to develop a lifeless building which would not engage with people and end up as a white elephant. The economic sustainability will be secured in the long term by funds derived from leasing of the commercial spaces, which will be used to repay substantial borrowings undertaken by committee. The hall/theatre space will be operated by the Butt Drama Circle on behalf of the committee as the Balor Arts Centre.
The building contains a cutting edge hall/theatre with retractable seating and a small balcony with seated capacity of up to 300 and overall capacity when seats are retracted of circa 530. Project Architect Brian Mc Elhinney stated “We are really excited now that the Butt Hall Centre is complete and we cannot wait for the public reaction, much credit is due to the contractor McDermott Trearty and all their sub-contactors who have delivered a building of outstanding quality. We salute the Butt Hall Committee for its determination to provide and fund the very best facility possible”.
A selection of events will be held from July 6th to July 19th including The Shaughran, Romano Drom, Ciaran O’Maonaigh & Aiden O’Donnell, the Horslips Exhibition, Open Day on the 12th July, Jeff Green, Dead Rooster Blues, I Lear, Maladjusted, Lisa Hannigan and A Butt Hall dance with Gay McIntyre on July 19.
The highlight of the week will be the official opening of the The Butt Hall Centre by An Tanaiste Mary Coughlin, at a special ceremony this Sunday, 13th July, followed by a concert with Altan.
Dessie Griffin, Chairman of the Butt Hall Committee commented, “We are very proud of what we have achieved so far. The new building is now there for all to see and hopefully enjoy. There has been a huge interest in the building during the last few weeks as we approach the hand-over and the Butt Hall Committee are very optimistic that the new Centre will be filled with people, and be vibrant and accessible to everyone.”