Belfast
Belfast The Primary Capital City in Northern Ireland and once thriving shipping building port Belfast is Irelands second largest city and the principal city in the province of Northern Ireland which is segregated from Southern Ireland. Belfast was once the troubled city of division between Catholics and Protestant is now healing those wounds to become a thriving city once more. Belfast is situated on the Eastern Coast and once the home of the World’s largest ship building company Harland & Wolfe and the birthplace of the famous Titanic which was built here in 1912 which sailed from Liverpool on it’s ill fated maiden voyage to America. Belfast was created a City status by Queen Victoria in 1888 History The name Belfast derives from ‘beal feirste’ in Irish, which means as much as ‘mouth of the sandpit’ - and is first mentioned in the 15th century. The settlement itself originated from a castle build around 1177 by John the Courcy. In 1613 Belfast was granted corporation status, with the right to send members to the parliament at Westminster. In the 17th century there was an influx of Huguenot immigrants seeking refuge from religious persecution in France. Industrialisation began for Belfast in the 18th century with the linen trade, replaced by cotton in the next century in the 19th century. The prosperity brought by shipping and industry is still reflected in the impressive buildings. Belfast is still not a very big town, with just over half a million inhabitants, but is nevertheless the biggest city in Northern Ireland. What to See & Do in Belfast