Belfast is infamous throughout the world for one thing- The Northern Irish troubles. However, the city has a rich and industrious past. This is an introduction to the vibrant and dynamic city:
In the early 1800's, Belfast was merely an insignificant Georgian town, straddling the lough, overshadowed by its Norman neighbour, Carrickfergus. However, when the British Industrial Revolution took off in the mid 1800's, Belfast boomed, to become one of the British Empires most important cities. By 1900, Belfast had the worlds largest shipyard, Harland and Wolff. )In the 1910's, the worlds largest (and today most famous) ship, Titanic was designed and built in the shipyard, alongside her sisters Britannic and Olympic. Today, the ship-building legacy continues, as Belfast still has Europe's tallest gantry cranes and largest dry dock.) Belfast earned the nickname 'Linenopolis' as the city produced a massive percentage of the worlds total linen. The Sirocco rope-works were located within the worlds longest building, and forward thinking entrepreneurs from the city invented the modern bicycle tyre and air conditioning units. Russian Tsars and other international royalty shopped in the cities grand department stores. By populace, economically and geographically, Belfast had become larger than Dublin, described as the 'Athens' and 'Venice' of the UK.
When the Republic of Ireland declared independence, Belfast Became the capital of the new British state, Northern Ireland. The Stormont parliament buildings were opened in 1932 (scaled down due to the Wall St crash) The move was controversial, and led to the ongoing trouble still facing Northern Ireland today. There were several minor IRA threats in the city leading up to the 1960's.
During WWII, thousands of Belfast men were sent to fight for the UK. As Belfast was seen as a vital industrial city in the UK war effort, Hitler commanded that the Luftwaffe destroyed the docks and aircraft manufacturers. The Belfast Blitz occurred on 15th April 1941, and much of the city facing towards the shipyard was flattened, including much of High street. Belfast became the most heavily attacked city in the UK in one night outside of London. The Luftwaffe planned to come back to Belfast and flatten more of the city, however the plans were never followed through.
Belfast enjoyed relative peace until the summer of 1968- the official start of the Northern Irish troubles, that would go on to claim 3524 lives across the UK and Ireland. The IRA resurfaced, introducing a reign of terror against protestants and unionists in Northern Ireland. Belfast (Along with Derry) was the most affected city. Over 10 terrorist paramilitary terrorist groups patrolled Belfast, policing their own areas. Stormont was forced to close as the problem spiralled out of control. The British army were sent to the streets of the city and every person entering the city centre was checked for explosives. The Europa Hotel on Grt Victoria Street became the most bombed hotel in Europe. Peace walls, reminiscent to those in Berlin, separated the declining Catholic and Protestant populations of Belfast. In 1997, the IRA called a ceasefire, and the Good Friday Agreement was signed, re-instating peace to Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole. Today, the famous Belfast murals are left as a reminder of what was.
Since the IRA ceasefire, Belfast's economy has been almost unrivalled in growth throughout the UK. It has become one of the most heavily invested city's the UK, with developers spending billions on regeneration schemes throughout the city. Belfast boasts the largest House of Frazer to initially open, Ireland's only official Apple store, and many other sought after retail names, such as Hamleys and FCUK. Victoria Sq is one of the UK's most modern and successful retail developments. The city is home to Ireland's 3 tallest buildings and is renound for its night-life and dining, boasting two Michelin starred restaurants. The city has a 20 000 seater indoor arena, and the worlds second best conference centre (2006, Aspex) 7 million people visited the city in 2008, and the place is fast becoming one of Europe's hottest city break destinations. This is Belfast's renaissance.
Enjoy the pics!
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