Ulster Hall, a vibrant concert and entertainment venue that is part of the ICC complex in central Belfast, Northern Ireland, has received a new lighting installation featuring nearly 60 spectacular Robe moving lights, including 9 ESPRITE Profiles, 25 PAINTE Profiles, and 25 LEDBeam 350s.
This upgrade is part of a renovation of the venue, a protected historic building dating back to 1862 with a rich musical and cultural history. Its iconic walls have resonated with performances by legendary names such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and many more.
The venue is also home to the Ulster Orchestra, meaning that alongside the intensity and energy of rock’n’roll, Ulster Hall also hosts the elegance and pin-drop silence required for classical performances and recordings, reinforcing its reputation as a diverse, dynamic, and culturally significant entertainment space.
Dave Young, head of production for the ICC complex — which also includes Waterfront Hall and ICC Belfast — explained that the previous lighting upgrade took place in the mid-2000s, so after nearly 20 years of intensive use, the refurbishment was long overdue.
He and his team began searching for suitable fixtures in 2025, and Robe was one of the brands considered. Sustainability was also part of the key criteria, and for the orchestra, it was essential to have quiet fixtures. After carefully evaluating all the options, Dave decided that Robe was the best choice.
These three types of fixtures are ideal for our specific needs. We didn’t need the biggest or the brightest; we needed the most balanced options, suited to our budget and the space, while also offering great value to the promoters and clients working at the venue, he stated.
The ESPRITE, PAINTE, and LEDBeam 350 models are versatile, multifunctional luminaires that are compact and packed with features.
For the overhead installation, they needed profiles and washes capable of working equally well for a recital, a rock concert, or a comedy night. All the new fixtures are part of the overhead stage rig, except for six PAINTE units that form a floor package. The venue has a capacity of 1,400 standing and 800 seated, and the programming combines both formats.
The technical and production team is delighted with the Robe fixtures. Dave was already familiar with Robe products; in fact, he first encountered the brand while working at holiday resorts at the beginning of his career. He later continued using them during his time at NEC Group and subsequently while heading production at Birmingham ICC before moving to Belfast. He has also seen them extensively on international tours.
You would always hear very positive comments about Robe’s reliability and durability, and about how their lifespan could easily reach 10 or 12 years, which represents an excellent return on investment, he commented.
The new Ulster Hall fixtures were supplied by Robe UK, and the project was managed by Gavin Mooney, national sales manager for Robe Ireland. Dave highlighted that the service and support from Robe UK were “excellent”, also emphasizing that this aspect is a fundamental part of any investment plan.
Ulster Hall’s technical team consists of four production managers working with different promoters and clients, along with 11 full-time technicians specializing in sound, lighting, and AV, plus around 30 regular freelancers. The staff has expanded in recent years and, although the venue previously hosted external productions only, it now also has its own in-house production company. In addition to concerts, Ulster Hall hosts corporate events, trade fairs, and business gatherings, all with production supplied internally, keeping the venue constantly busy.
The new fixtures have also improved workflow efficiency, as well as focus times and creative output, meaning the Robe equipment is making a significant difference.
Photo credits: BWUH Ltd courtesy of Ulster Hall
