The Lagan, Stranmillis, and the River Walk: A Blend of Progress and Persisting Problems
My recent visit to Belfast on 27th May 2025 offered a fresh perspective on the ongoing development along the River Lagan. While significant progress has been made in enhancing the city’s riverside, particularly around Stranmillis, the persistent issue of graffiti continues to detract from these valuable public spaces.

The Lagan Gateway scheme has been instrumental in transforming the riverfront. During my previous visit in 2022, I was just a few days shy of witnessing the opening of Belfast’s first new navigation lock in over 250 years. This lock, situated beneath the Stranmillis Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge (which opened in September 2021), is a testament to the city’s commitment to revitalising its waterways. The broader scheme also included crucial refurbishments to the existing weir, along with thoughtful landscaping and the creation of new path connections, all designed to improve accessibility and enjoyment of the river.

I highly recommend exploring the Lagan Towpath to anyone visiting Belfast. A walk as far as the new Stranmillis Pedestrian Bridge provides an excellent vantage point to appreciate the scale of these developments. However, it’s impossible to ignore the pervasive problem of poor-quality graffiti that unfortunately blights much of the river walk. Despite the considerable time and effort invested in developing these pathways, the sheer volume of meritless tagging is disheartening. I was particularly struck by one instance of graffiti on what appeared to be an almost impossibly high and inaccessible section of the bridge structure, raising questions about how such vandalism occurs.

The contrast between the impressive infrastructure improvements and the widespread graffiti highlights an ongoing challenge for urban development. While the Lagan Gateway scheme has undeniably enhanced the aesthetic and recreational value of the river, the issue of vandalism demands further attention to ensure these valuable public amenities can be fully appreciated by all.

The post THE LOCK AND PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT STRANMILLIS appeared first on THE URBAN CARTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS BELFAST.

Back in 2016, I struggled to photograph the Sweet Water Arch due to intense rain, which also forced me to abandon my exploration of the area. This year, I encountered similar weather, but thankfully, better rain gear and a more robust camera allowed me to spend a good two hours in the vicinity.

The name, Sweet Water Arch, is a direct translation from the Irish for the area, ‘An Srúthan Milís’, meaning ‘sweet stream’.

You’ll find the sculpture in the car park next to the Lyric Theatre, opposite Governor’s Bridge and across the road from Stranmillis College.

The arch symbolises several local connections: it links the communities on both sides of the river, represents the theatrical ties with the Lyric Theatre, and embodies the flow of the river itself. It also incorporates design elements from the frontage of Stranmillis College, which was designed by Charles Lanyon. It’s often suggested that the chair within the sculpture symbolises the college as a seat of learning. I also spotted a pair of oars – I wonder if there’s a rowing club nearby?

The post SWEET WATER ARCH BY DENIS O’CONNOR AND BERNIE RUTTER – STRANMILLIS MAY 2025 appeared first on THE URBAN CARTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS BELFAST.