Ban Righ Hall

Ban Righ Hall
Built 1923-25, this women's residence is the oldest of the university residences. Its opening in 1925 was made possible by the dogged efforts of the Alumnae Association, a group comprising the female graduates of Queen's University. The alumnae raised $80,000 - over half of the money needed for the building - themselves, in a fifteen year fundraising drive comprised mostly of teas, bakesales, bridge parties, and small donations.

A reluctant Board of Trustees provided the rest of the money: some Board members were worried that no women would want to live in Ban Righ because it was located on what was then the little-traveled, extreme southwest edge of campus, cut off from the focus of student life to the north and east. In return for their money, the Trustees demanded ownership of the building and the alumnae did not object, on the condition that they would have a share in the administration and supervision of the residence. The Board agreed, and the Alumnae Association held a measure of authority over all women's residences until the 1970's.

Ban Righ was officially opened in October of 1925 by the Viscountess Byng of Vimy, the wife of the Governor General. An expanded dining hall was added in 1967-68, and was completely renovated in 1996 to accommodate growing numbers of students in residences, as well as to modernize food services at the University. The term "ban righ" is Gaelic for "wife of the King" or, in other words, "Queen." The name was suggested by Professor Macgillivray when the original name chosen by the alumnae, "Banrighinn Hall," was called into question because of the possibility of it being confused with a Mr. Brannigan, who was the owner of a local theatre.