Belfast Ireland

Day 60/Ireland 1

Travelled: Ferry-Cairnryan Scotland to Belfast Ireland 82km 2.5 hours Stena Line £149, 48km by road

Stay: Hazelbank Park (near Belfast)- mixed parking N54.6613 W5.9015

Visited: Belfast 

We were up and ready to go before the alarm went off, arriving nice and early at the ferry terminal and then waited in line for our 7:30am departure. 

It was another smooth crossing and then we were in Belfast City. 

We decided to park in the Titanic Quarter (£4.50/5hrs). So our visit to the city began there. As the name suggests the area is dedicated to the ill fated RMS Titanic as it was built and launched from the shipyard that was once here. In its place there is a huge 8 floor aluminum clad building in the shape of the ships prow sitting above the original ship’s slipway. 

Couldn’t help myself...no Leonardo though..

We decided not to visit the museum inside and just strolled around the dockyard instead. 

In the area there is also the SS Nomadic, the world’s last remaining White Star Ship. The Titanic Studios is one of the largest in Europe and at the moment, it is best known for its production of Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones..

 In the skyline you can’t help but notice the 90m twin yellow cranes that have even been given names - Samson and Goliath, reflecting their immense strength in lifting loads of up to 840tons.

 We then walked along the river and over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge into the city centre. We were first greeted by the Albert Memorial Clock Tower built in 1870 and is a popular meeting place for the people in Belfast.

Too early for a pint.

 The Victoria Square shopping precinct is also a busy place. The fountain was erected in 1870. 

Still too early for a pint...

In the shopping centre there is a large glass dome with a viewing platform. Unfortunately it was closed due to hot weather!!  We were surprised as it was only 23°. 

Muriel’s Pub..interesting decor 

Next we visited the City Hall, built in 1906 it was a very impressive building inside and out. 

One of the stain glass windows depicting different eras of Belfast.

We spent a bit of time wondering through the rooms reading about the city’s  history and it’s people.

 Feeling hungry and thirsty we were lucky to get a spot at Belfast’s most famous pub, The Crown Liquor Saloon. 

Built in the Victorian era in 1826, it boasts a lovely interior with beautiful tiles and a number of cozy timber snugs that would have given people privacy from others in the day. Each had there own bell to call for a waiter and match striking plates. Gas lighting was still being used.

Fish pie and Irish stew..

Apparently the most bombed building in Belfast.14 times ! Glad we aren’t staying here.

 Just near here was the Opera House built in 1895.

 Feeling fortified we crossed the city again up to St.Anne’s Cathedral consecrated in 1904 and had taken 100 years to complete. Having seen our fill of churches we opted not to pay to go inside. 

Just around the corner was a WWII museum. It was only small but had interesting information on events of the war and its effects on Belfast.

 We strolled through a few streets of the Cathedral district on our way back to Bluey.

Interesting sculpture 

 Feeling weary we drove west to a P4N spot in Holywood but being such a nice day the parking area was packed. So we turned back and decided we would push on and do tomorrow’s planned activity, the murals of Falls Road(Catholic) and Shankill Road (Protestant). Simply, the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants during 1968-1998 is called The Troubles. It was not a religious conflict but more political and nationalistic. The key issue being the loyalists/Protestants/Ulster Defence Assoc.(plus others) wanting Northern Ireland to remain within the UK and the Republicans/Catholics/ IRA (and others) wanting Northern Ireland to leave the UK and join a united Ireland. Riots led to British troops constructing the ‘Peace Walls’ to keep opposing communities apart. Many lost their lives throughout Northern Ireland (about half were in Belfast), 3,532 52% civilians and a lot more were injured 47,500+. Popular art was a way to express their affiliations and many walls of buildings were decorated with vivid murals.  We managed to find street parking in Falls Road and went for a walk. The themes of some of the murals reflected international solidarity with revolutionary groups, the 1981 hunger strike including Bobby Sands and others.

We then drove along the Peace Wall on the Protestant side.  It is amazing that some of the gates of the peace wall are still closed each night. 

We then drove over to the Shankill Road side where the Union Jack flags are proudly displayed on most buildings and the curb side are coloured red, white and blue. Many of their murals were about lives lost.

Glad we were driving through this street...it was a bit intimidating.

Both areas were quite confronting and the housing showing evidence of their struggles. 

We then pointed Bluey south to Hazelbank Park and chilled out  after a bigger than expected day. We decided that tomorrow we would stay here and have a rest day.