On the northwest corner of Donegal Square sits the Linen Hall Library, a private collection founded in 1788 and housed in a building designed by Charles Lanyon. This is the last subscribing library in Ireland as well as the oldest library in the city of Belfast.
The interior is beautifully decorated by a variety of Belfast artworks, including paintings and prints, many of which are available for purchase.
Many of the documents in the library’s Irish and Local Studies collection chronicle the events of the Troubles, in fact, at more than 80,000 documents, the Linen Hall Library holds perhaps the most extensive collection of information on the subject.
The history of the library chronicles the story of one of its first librarians, a man named Thomas Russell, who was connected with an uprising in 1803 and ultimately hanged for his involvement.
The Linen Hall Library offers a variety of services, and prides itself on being a centre for culture and learning. A schedule of events and exhibits is available.