Public invited to share memories and memorabilia from Dundalk's Foresters’ Hall

Following its reopening last November after an extensive restoration by Dundalk Credit Union, the historic Foresters’ Hall on Market Street has once again been restored to its former glory.

Now, as part of an ongoing heritage initiative in collaboration with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), the public is being invited to help build a permanent display by contributing photographs, memorabilia, documents or objects connected to the Hall’s rich and varied past.

Originally constructed in 1902, Foresters’ Hall was built as the meeting place for the Dundalk Branch of the Irish National Foresters (INF), a friendly benefit society that played an important social and political role in the town. In 1943, the Dundalk Friendly Benefit Society (DFBS) was established in the building, marking a new chapter in its history while continuing its tradition of community support.

For over a century, the Hall also served as a major social and cultural centre in Dundalk, hosting meetings, performances and community events. It became widely known as the home of the Oriel Cinema and subsequently as a snooker hall, before being used by Louth County Council as offices and storage prior to restoration.

As part of the restoration project, Dundalk Credit Union commissioned a formal historical research initiative with DkIT. The project sought to document the full history of the building by exploring its occupants, uses and associated stories, while also gathering material for a permanent exhibition space within the restored Hall.

The research culminated in a printed history booklet and a temporary exhibition at the time of the reopening. The exhibition explored two central themes: the “Friendly Societies” associated with the Hall and the many “Other Stories” linked to its social and cultural life. Since then, there has been strong local interest and engagement and it is hoped that this public call-out will uncover further treasures still tucked away in drawers and attics across Dundalk.

Items of particular interest include material connected to the Irish National Foresters, the Dundalk Friendly Benefit Society, and related groups such as the Doctor/Cardinal Logue and Robert Emmet branches. Membership rule books, weekly payment books, badges, ledgers, minute books and ceremonial regalia, including the distinctive ‘Emmet’ sashes, braided green coats and plumed hats, would all be invaluable. The whereabouts of the original INF branch banner, which featured a painting of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, also remains unknown.

Memorabilia from the Hall’s cinema days are equally sought after. The Electric Theatre opened there in 1910 as Dundalk’s first cinema, later reopening under Joseph Stanley in 1919 as the much-loved Oriel Cinema, which operated until the early 1950s. Cinema tickets, programmes, posters and related material would help bring this era to life.

The Hall’s theatrical history is also an area that may yield relevant objects. From early concerts and plays to visits by touring companies in the 1950s, including the Dublin Repertory Theatre Company, the stage saw a remarkable variety of performances. Even a souvenir card from the 1953 visit of the memorably billed “Musical Marie – 17 stone of rhythm and fun” would be a welcome find.

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Snooker and billiards were integral to life in the Hall from its earliest days, with the ground floor becoming a dedicated snooker hall in 1958 under the DFBS. Photographs of teams have already surfaced, but cues, balls, trophies or other snooker-related items connected to the Hall would greatly enhance the display.

The building also hosted significant political and cultural events. Douglas Hyde spoke at the Hall in 1915, resigning there as President of the Gaelic League amid its politicisation, while Jim Larkin addressed a gathering in 1924. Any photographs or memorabilia connected to these landmark occasions would be of exceptional importance.

Anyone with an item they think may be of interest can contact researcher Helen Doherty at: Helen.Doherty@dkit.ie