48 Hours in Belfast

Belfast is the pounding heart of Ulster, rejuvenated and confident, she’s sparkling once again. It’s old Gaelic name, Beal Feirste means ‘Mouth of the Farset’, the River Farset flows into the River Lagan at Donegall Quay. It is a young city, with very few of it’s buildings providing any indication of a pre-nineteenth century settlement. However the Norman Lord, John de Courcy built a castle here as early as the late twelfth century from which a settlement blossomed. The early seventeenth century Plantation of Ulster introduced the first influx of English and Scottish settlers, they were followed later in that century by French Hugenots settlers who were fleeing persecution in France. Between all these groups they introduced thriving linen, rope-making, tobacco, engineering and shipbuilding industries. With it’s textile mills and shipyards, Belfast was the only city in Ireland to have undergone an Industrial Revolution, evidenced by its rows and rows of brick terrace houses. Make sure during your visit that you move around all the quarters to apppreciate the diversity of culture in this great city. Start your first day with a hearty breakfast in one of half a dozen cafés along Botanic Avenue before grabbing the excellent brochure ‘A Walk in the Park’, it details numerous rewarding walks that you can take through the city, ensure that you include the free guided tour of the magnificent City Hall. Take a black taxi tour of West Belfast, visit the spectacular murals and the infamous Peace Line. Spend the afternoon on the Titanic Tour which departs from Donegall Quay calling in at the dry docks of Harland & Wolff where the mighty Titanic and Olympic were built. Walk across the Lagan Weir and visit the state of the art Odyssey Complex which includes the excellent W5 interactive science centre, brilliant for children of all ages. Spend the evening wandering around the great Victorian saloons of the city such as the Duke of York, Kelly’s Cellars and the Crown Liquor Saloon. On your second day wander around the scholarly grounds of historic Queen’s University and then on to the magical Botanic Gardens and it’s wonderful centrepiece, Charles Lanyon’s Palm House. Hopefully you’ll still have enough energy to scramble up Cave Hill to enjoy the amazing panoramic views from the top, on a clear day you can see as far as Scotland. Finish it all off with a fine meal at Paul Rankin’s Roscoff.



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For more information on Belfast contact Exploring Ireland