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Arts Council of NI invites Minister to the Grand Opera House Belfast, to see the impact of a major arts venue to the City and to NI

5th March, 2026

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons visited the Grand Opera House (GOH) Belfast with the Arts Council of NI (ACNI) recently, to learn more about the contribution this iconic venue makes to Belfast’s night time economy and the wider cultural tourism offer it provides to both NI audiences and to international visitors.

3 men and 2 women standing in a line in front of a building at night time. street lights and car lights are in the background.
Pictured L-R: Cathal Geoghegan, Chair of the GOH Trust, Nora Douds, Chair of ACNI, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, ACNI, and Ian Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, GOH Belfast

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, ACNI, and Nora Douds, Chair of ACNI welcomed the Minister, along with Ian Wilson Chief Executive Officer, GOH Belfast and Cathal Geoghegan, Chair of the GOH Trust.

The GOH receives some funding from the Arts Council of NI and provides high-quality touring theatre, opera, dance, comedy, family and music shows attracting an audience of around 300,000 people per year. The Theatre also provides over 150 permanent and casual job opportunities and is a key venue to wider creative skills development in NI. The Minister heard more about the history of the Theatre, which dates back to 1895, and learnt about the positive impact the venue has on the Arts sector, local economy, and tourism industry.

The Minister also attended a performance of Aaron Sorkin’s award-winning stage adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird. The international touring theatre show is visiting Belfast as part of its debut UK and Ireland tour.

Find out more about the Grand Opera House Belfast here: Grand Opera House | Belfast Theatre | Theatre Tickets