Landmark building to disappear from city centre

One of Newry's most prominent buildings will be demolished shortly to make way for a major redevelopment in the city centre.

The former Sean Hollywood Arts Centre will be knocked down in order to extend the neighbouring town hall, creating a single theatre and conference venue.

The final public performance at Newry Town Hall takes place on Sunday, before it too shuts to accommodate the two-year construction project.

But while the town hall's closure will be temporary, the demolition of the arts centre will bring the final curtain down on a significant local landmark.

So why was permission granted to demolish such a building?

With its neoclassical facade, and Georgian-style windows, the arts centre may look old, but looks can deceive.

In fact, the current building is a 1980s version of the original edifice which once stood in its place.

The original building, constructed in the 1830s, survived for more than 130 years until it was gutted in a bomb attack during the Troubles.

Initially known as the Savings Bank, it was once arguably the most important civic site in Newry.

To this day its legacy influences the street it occupied, which is still called Bank Parade.

Although the bank wound up in the late 1880s, the building continued to serve generations of townsfolk, with its large assembly rooms put to a variety of uses.

At various times it housed a ballroom; a theatrical stage; a public library; a technical college; a tax office and - for a limited period - it even served as Newry's town hall.

The town commissioners briefly used it as their headquarters until 1894, when they moved to their newly-built, red-bricked town hall.

They had considered expanding the old Savings Bank at first, but felt a bigger, purpose-built HQ would better reflect the ambitions of their growing port town.

Having taken on many different identities over the decades, it was a decision to use the Savings Bank as a temporary tax office which sealed its doom.

At the height of the Troubles in January 1972, IRA bombers walked into the building.

According to the Newry Reporter, 43 Inland Revenue staff were given just minutes to escape before three devices exploded, destroying the building and many tax records.

Within a decade, the local council had rebuilt the ruined shell, adding a large modern extension to create a civic arts centre.

The old granite portico - one of the few remnants to survive the bombing - was incorporated into a replica of the original facade.

Dedicated to the Newry actor and civil rights campaigner Sean Hollywood, the arts centre operated for almost 40 years and became a landmark in its own right.

However, in 2019, Newry, Mourne and Down Council proposed that the building be demolished to facilitate an expansion of the town hall.

Arts groups welcomed the investment, but the Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH) charity was among those who objected to demolition.

Its policy chairman John Anderson told BBC News NI it was another example of the "desecration" of Newry's heritage.

Anderson accepts the arts centre is a reconstruction, but insisted it still should have been protected as an asset within a conservation area.

"There was a lot of care taken with that particular building," he said.

"It's a faithful recreation of the classical facade of the original Newry Savings Bank.

"A very good recreation, not regarded as something tacky."

Despite objections, demolition permission was granted by the Department for Infrastructure in April 2025.

It also approved the demolition of an adjoining red brick house which dates back to the 1860s.

UAH argued both buildings should have been protected and incorporated into the redevelopment to preserve the character of the area.

"We are not against good architecture, we're also not against sympathetic and appropriate alterations to heritage buildings," Anderson said.

He said Northern Ireland's architectural heritage was "a national asset that needs to be protected and it's just being bulldozed".

But the council defended its redevelopment, saying it would "preserve and enhance the visual aspect of the conservation area for the benefit of the wider community".

"Newry has a proud theatrical legacy, and the approved plans will allow us to support a new generation of young performers in state-of-the-art facilities," a spokeswoman said.

She also pointed out neither the arts centre nor the house at No 2 Bank Parade were listed buildings.

She said their "contribution to the conservation area was considered in detail within the planning process" and Stormont's Historical Environment Division (HED) had "no objection in principle to proposals, subject to conditions".

BBC News NI showed the plans to Newry residents who were passing through the area last week.

"It's absolutely beautiful, and it will be a lovely feature for the town," said Marie Byrne.

She has fond members of visiting the arts centre for exhibitions and other events throughout the years.

"I thought it was lovely the way it was," she said.

"But in saying that, everything is good for change. People have to move on."

"Newry in general needs a good upgrade," said Patrick Smith, adding that the area around the town hall "needs brightened up, that's for sure".

He was in favour of the redevelopment project, but added he would have equally supported keeping the arts centre and incorporating it into the plans.

"It is sad to see a building like that come down... but for growth for Newry it will be a welcome change."

Ray Casey, from Newrys Armagh Road, remembered the original building from his youth when it formed part of Newry technical college.

"It's not being used at the moment, it's a waste so I'm all for the redevelopment," he said.

No firm date for demolition has been confirmed, but the arts centre will be handed over to the contractor in June.