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Courier-Mail
15-07-2025
- Courier-Mail
10 best things to do in Belfast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Here are 10 things to add to your Belfast itinerary... 1. Tour Belfast City Hall The city's first civic building opened in 1906 and it's one of Belfast's most opulent buildings. Sign up for a guided tour to marvel at the beautiful stained glass windows (designed to highlight key chapters in the city's history), marble staircases and ornate sculptures. Its grounds include the Titanic Memorial Garden which has a nine-metre plinth bearing the names of those who died when the ship sank. The city's first civic building opened in 1906 2. Board HMS Caroline HMS Caroline is a decommissioned navy ship which set sail in 1914. She was used in combat during WWI and as an administrative base during WWII. She now resides in Alexandra Dock in Belfast's Titanic Quarter, and visitors can check out her engine rooms, drill halls and captain's quarters (which make even the smallest cruise ship 3. Pick up gardening tips Established in 1828, Belfast's Botanic Gardens are stuffed with species from the southern hemisphere. One of the most striking buildings is Charles Lanyon's Palm House, which was built in 1839, while the Tropical Ravine greenhouse's tropical plants include orchids, bananas and lilies. Charles Lanyon's Palm House 4. Celebrate Narnia CS Lewis Square, on Newtownards Road, has seven bronze sculptures depicting characters from The Chronicles of Narnia, and pays tribute to the Belfast-born author. Afterwards, pop into the EastSide Visitor Centre, next to the square, to learn about the history of East Belfast, or to feast on delicious cakes at its JACK Coffee Bar (C.S. Lewis was known as Jack to his close friends). 5. Visit Titanic Belfast 'No trip is complete without a visit to Titanic Belfast, an interactive museum built on the shipyard,' says The museum is one of the city's most popular attractions, and has 10 galleries where visitors can immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells connected with the ship, learning not only about HMS Titanic but the people who built her. Expect plenty of tech – interactive screens display passenger lists and visitors can board rollercoaster-style cars to travel through a replica of the ship. Sunset over Titanic Belfast 6. Shop at the market The covered St George's Market was built in the late 1800s, and it's a fantastic option for rainy days. There's little you won't find here, whether it's second-hand books or delicious food. Head for the bakery section to admire types of bread you never knew existed (we're particularly keen on fadge, made with potatoes) or to the seafood section to check out stalls piled with still-twitching prawns, crabs and clams. 7. Admire Belfast Castle Belfast Castle isn't actually that old – it was built in the 1860s – but it's still worthy of your radar. Architectural masterpieces include a gorgeous Italianate Renaissance spiral staircase and the grand Jacobean-style portico, although the grounds are just as wonderful, with beautifully manicured gardens incorporating fountains. Belfast Castle was built in the 1860s 8. Hike through Cave Hill Cave Hill Country Park, on the city's outskirts, is a brilliant place to soak up views over Belfast. Its numerous archaeological sites include an ancient ráth (or fort) and there are several picnic spots. It's a nature lover's paradise – don't be surprised to spot peregrines soaring above the park's fragrant wildflower meadows. 9. Sip Guinness Belfast is famous for its cosy pubs. Take Great Victoria Street's The Crown, which opened in the 1920s and is now owned by the National Trust. The historic pub is packed with original features, including brocaded walls, mosaics and etched glass windows, and the most sought after spots are the cosy wooden snugs, complete with gunmetal plates that were once used for striking matches. Belfast is famous for its cosy pubs 10. Try an Ulster Fry A great way to fuel your exploration of Northern Ireland's capital, an Ulster Fry breakfast typically includes bacon, sausage, black pudding, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, soda bread and potato bread. Perhaps try it at Newtonards Road's Lamppost Cafe, where your hearty meal will be served on Insta-friendly vintage crockery. Originally published as 10 best things to do in Belfast
Belfast Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Ex-UUP councillor and gay rights trailblazer proposed debate on controversial LGBT+ window but was voted down
Former councillor and gay rights activist Jeffrey Dudgeon tried to secure a debate about the LGBT+ stained-glass window at Belfast City Hall to avoid a row about the fixture. The ex-UUP representative told the Belfast Telegraph he had no comment to make regarding his current position on the artwork, as he dismissed a TUV complaint about the 'Save Sodomy from Ulster' slogan etched on the glass as 'petty'.
Irish Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Removal of Michael D Higgins' portrait at Belfast City Hall by DUP Lord Mayor angers Sinn Féin
A portrait of President Michael D Higgins was removed from display in Belfast City Hall and placed in storage at the request of DUP Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly, Belfast City Council has said. It emerged at a council meeting on Tuesday evening that the picture of the President, which used to hang alongside a similar portrait of King Charles in the Lord Mayor's parlour, was no longer there. In a statement, Belfast City Council said the 'decoration of the parlour is a matter for each individual Lord Mayor throughout their term in office'. 'The photographic portrait of President Michael D Higgins has been safely stored at City Hall, at the request of the current Lord Mayor, while she considers options for this space during her mayoral term,' the council said. READ MORE Ms Kelly has been a DUP councillor in the Botanic area of South Belfast since 2019 and was elected Lord Mayor of Belfast last month. DUP Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Tracy Kelly. Photograph: Matt Mackey At the council meeting, Sinn Féin Cllr Ryan Murphy asked Ms Kelly, 'where is that portrait, and what kind of message does it send out to the people in this city who hold the president of Ireland in high regard?' 'Thank you, that's been noted,' Ms Kelly replied. Cllr Murphy, who was lord mayor of Belfast from 2023-2024, said that when Sinn Féin representatives had been lord mayor of Belfast, 'there were certain things that we never took off the walls, there were certain things that we felt were off-limits. 'And so when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles, we accepted it and we put it up, and we put it up alongside the [portrait of] Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins and we marked it with a small event in the Mayor's office 'I think for us, it's concerning that we've seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there.' Asked why the portrait had been removed and if there were any plans to reinstate it, the DUP said in a statement that the 'decoration of the Lord Mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks.'
Sunday World
02-07-2025
- Sunday World
Loyalist chief back in hospital where he ‘went on bloody rampage'
McKee suffers heart attack while on remand for alleged violent spree at Craigavon Protestant Coalition leader Robert 'Rab' McKee has landed himself back in the same hospital where he is alleged to have gone on the rampage only six months ago, the Sunday World has learned. It is believed McKee (45), from Weaver Court, Donaghcloney in Co. Down, suffered a heart attack while a prisoner in HMP Maghaberry, where he was being held on remand. The Belfast-born loyalist activist first hit the headlines 12 years ago while taking part in in the failed flag protests outside the Belfast City Hall. And later he helped found the Protestant Coalition — which, at the time, was set up as a political party — but it de-registered two years later without contesting a single election. McKee is still named in correspondence as currently leading the organisation. Last week, Craigavon Magistrates Court heard details of the case against McKee, relating to an incident on Saturday, January 25. McKee is currently charged with hijacking a Volkswagon Polo without the consent of the owner; attempting to hijack an ambulance; driving with no insurance; driving while disqualified; making a threat to kill a male; assaulting the male and assaulting a police officer. The events all took place in or near Craigavon Hospital on January 25. An earlier court heard how police received a 999 call from McKee's phone, which he later abandoned. And when officers arrived at the hospital to investigate, they found McKee in the process of receiving a blood transfusion. The court heard he claimed 'the IRA, hospital staff and the police were colluding to kill him'. Craigavon Hospital Against police advice, McKee is alleged to have wrenched an IV line from his arm and, using his cupped hand as a scoop, began flicking blood in the direction of the officers. Police retreated to 'create space' and in an attempt to defuse an escalating and dangerous situation. Around two hours later, a PSNI officer told the court, police learned that McKee had threatened a member of the public who had tried to help him. It was claimed he had opened the door of the man's VW Polo and, after getting into the passenger seat, told the driver: 'I have a gun. It's your life or the car.' McKee then ordered the man to drive to Belfast. But the man drove to a nearby industrial estate where he worked. As he jumped out of his car, he tried to grab his car keys — but McKee was already sitting in the driver's seat and he drove off. McKee was later spotted back in the grounds of Craigavon Hospital, where he is alleged to have tried to steal an ambulance, but was prevented from doing so by an anti-theft device. Loyalist leader Robert 'Rab' McKee Police later tracked McKee down to his bungalow home in Donaghcloney, where they found him sitting outside in the freezing cold, without a shirt or shoes. He was arrested and taken into custody. A solicitor for McKee told the earlier court that his client suffered from a number of health conditions. He explained his client had 'delerium' at the time of the alleged offences. He added that McKee denied flicking blood. Refusing bail, District Judge Anne Marshall told McKee's lawyer: 'There is absolutely no way I'm allowing him to walk out that door today. He is clearly a risk to the public and a risk to further offending.' At Craigavon Court last Friday, McKee's solicitor told the court his client had a heart attack six days previously and he is currently being cared for in Craigavon Hospital. The legal representative added that his client was in 'poor health generally'. A prosecutor asked the court for the case to be adjourned until July 18.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Michael D Higgins portrait 'vanishes at Belfast City Hall'
Sinn Féin say a portrait of Irish president Michael D Higgins has disappeared from a reception room at Belfast City Hall used by the unionist lord party has asked the mayor, Tracy Kelly of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), to explain where it has directly challenged on the issue by former Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy at Tuesday night's council meeting, Mrs Kelly offered no of the Irish and British heads of state, President Higgins and King Charles, had previously been side by side on a wall in the lord mayor's parlour. Mrs Kelly posted a picture on social media of a meeting in City Hall last week with Orange Order representatives. Other councillors noticed that only the King Charles portrait could be Tuesday's council meeting, Mr Murphy praised the DUP mayor for how she had carried out her public duties during her first month in office, then raised the portrait Sinn Féin councillor said: "When our representatives have been in that position of being the mayor, there were certain things that we never took off the walls. There were certain things we felt were off limits."And so when we were offered the royal portrait of the British King Charles [in March 2024], we accepted it and we put it up."And we put it up alongside Uachtarán na hÉireann [President of Ireland] Michael D Higgins, and we marked it with a small event in the mayor's office."It's concerning that we have seen in recent weeks that that portrait is no longer there, and we would just ask where is that portrait? And what kind of message does it send out to people in this city who hold the president of Ireland in high regard?"Mrs Kelly responded: "Thank you, that's being noted. Thanks Ryan." When asked about the matter by BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the council said it was a matter for the lord mayor.A DUP spokesperson said: "Decoration of the lord mayor's parlour is not yet complete. There will be further artefacts to be added in the next few weeks." It is not the first time there has been a dispute at City Hall over portraits in the 2011, Sinn Féin's Niall Ó Donnghaile upset unionists by removing pictures of the Queen Mother and Prince image of the 1916 Proclamation and a portrait of United Irishmen were month, Mrs Kelly became the DUP's first female lord mayor in parlour is a formal room on the first floor of City Hall, used for meetings, receptions and special her death, there was a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince portraits of President Higgins and King Charles went up last year when there was a Sinn Féin mayor. They remained during the next term of office - the Alliance Party's Micky posted on X a picture from the parlour that included the portraits in the background.
