REMEMBERING TO OLD ESTABLISHMENT
Back in May 2011 when I was in Belfast I visited City Hall I began photographing all of the statues and memorials and then I was approached by a group of "nationalists" who complained, even objected, to me photographing memorials dedicated to the British Empire. I suspect that they originally assumed that I was an American tourist.
Upon checking I discovered that there were some accounts that supported my impression and claims by others that there was an excessive number of memorials dedicated to the old establishment in Belfast City Hall, particularly those associated with the British Empire, is/was accurate. This is reflective of Belfast's history and its place within the United Kingdom. However, it's important to note that the city has been making efforts to diversify its public spaces to represent a broader range of historical figures and perspectives.
Here's a current list [May 2024] of the statues and memorials at Belfast City Hall, along with brief accounts of each:
Queen Victoria Memorial: A statue of Queen Victoria, monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the time when Belfast experienced significant industrial growth.
Edward James Harland Statue: A statue of Edward James Harland, co-founder of Harland and Wolff shipyard, famous for building the Titanic.
The Cenotaph: A war memorial dedicated to those who died in World War I.
Titanic Memorial Garden: A memorial garden listing the names of the 1,512 victims of the Titanic disaster.
Memorial to the Victims of the Blitz: A memorial commemorating the victims of the Belfast Blitz during World War II.
The Belfast War Memorial: A memorial dedicated to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who died in World War I.
The Boer War Memorial: A memorial dedicated to the men of the Royal Irish Rifles who died in the Boer War.
The UDR Memorial: A memorial to the Ulster Defence Regiment, a locally recruited infantry regiment of the British Army.
The RUC Memorial: A memorial to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the police force of Northern Ireland until 2001.
The Firefighters Memorial: A memorial dedicated to the firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Mary Ann McCracken Statue: A statue of Mary Ann McCracken, an abolitionist, social reformer, and activist who fought for the rights of women and championed Belfast's poor.
Winifred Carney Statue: A statue of Winifred Carney, a suffragist, trade unionist, and Irish independence activist.
In recent years, the addition of the Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney statues demonstrates a conscious effort to broaden the representation of historical figures in Belfast's public spaces, acknowledging the contributions of women and those associated with Irish nationalism and social reform.
Upon checking I discovered that there were some accounts that supported my impression and claims by others that there was an excessive number of memorials dedicated to the old establishment in Belfast City Hall, particularly those associated with the British Empire, is/was accurate. This is reflective of Belfast's history and its place within the United Kingdom. However, it's important to note that the city has been making efforts to diversify its public spaces to represent a broader range of historical figures and perspectives.
Here's a current list [May 2024] of the statues and memorials at Belfast City Hall, along with brief accounts of each:
Queen Victoria Memorial: A statue of Queen Victoria, monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the time when Belfast experienced significant industrial growth.
Edward James Harland Statue: A statue of Edward James Harland, co-founder of Harland and Wolff shipyard, famous for building the Titanic.
The Cenotaph: A war memorial dedicated to those who died in World War I.
Titanic Memorial Garden: A memorial garden listing the names of the 1,512 victims of the Titanic disaster.
Memorial to the Victims of the Blitz: A memorial commemorating the victims of the Belfast Blitz during World War II.
The Belfast War Memorial: A memorial dedicated to the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who died in World War I.
The Boer War Memorial: A memorial dedicated to the men of the Royal Irish Rifles who died in the Boer War.
The UDR Memorial: A memorial to the Ulster Defence Regiment, a locally recruited infantry regiment of the British Army.
The RUC Memorial: A memorial to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the police force of Northern Ireland until 2001.
The Firefighters Memorial: A memorial dedicated to the firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Mary Ann McCracken Statue: A statue of Mary Ann McCracken, an abolitionist, social reformer, and activist who fought for the rights of women and championed Belfast's poor.
Winifred Carney Statue: A statue of Winifred Carney, a suffragist, trade unionist, and Irish independence activist.
In recent years, the addition of the Mary Ann McCracken and Winifred Carney statues demonstrates a conscious effort to broaden the representation of historical figures in Belfast's public spaces, acknowledging the contributions of women and those associated with Irish nationalism and social reform.
REMEMBERING TO OLD ESTABLISHMENT