BELFASTI VISITED THE CITY IN MARCH 2019
THE LAGAN WEIR PHOTOGRAPHED AT NIGHT IN MARCH 2019
The Lagan Weir, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, crosses the River Lagan between the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and the M3 cross-harbour bridge. Prior to the building of the weir, the river would be subject to tidal fluctuations, and low tide would expose mudflats, which were unsightly and emitted a strong odour, particularly in the summer months. Opened in 1994, the weir was seen by the Laganside Corporation as a catalyst for its redevelopment projects and was judged to be the "centrepiece" of that effort. The weir also incorporates a footbridge.
YOGA LESSON SCULPTURE BY MICHAEL DISLEY THE ARCHES CENTRE BELFAST
The bold, colourful Arches Centre is a beacon of health and regeneration for its east Belfast neighbourhood. It is one of three new Community Treatment and Care Centres designed to provide a range of health and social care services under one roof.
Outside the Arches Centre in Belfast Michael Disley’s highly visible and cheerful Yoga Lesson sculpture is made of concrete and depicts a child in a flower-print dress performing a hand stand.
In the past 25 years Michael over a hundred public works all across the UK and Ireland. In 1993 he went to Africa to live and work with the Shona carvers in Zimbabwe. More recently he travelled extensively to Japan, China, and India to discover new materials, techniques and cultures.
Outside the Arches Centre in Belfast Michael Disley’s highly visible and cheerful Yoga Lesson sculpture is made of concrete and depicts a child in a flower-print dress performing a hand stand.
In the past 25 years Michael over a hundred public works all across the UK and Ireland. In 1993 he went to Africa to live and work with the Shona carvers in Zimbabwe. More recently he travelled extensively to Japan, China, and India to discover new materials, techniques and cultures.
BELFAST TO KERRY MURAL THE FIRST THREE FATALITIES OF THE 1916 EASTER RISING
I had been informed that this mural was located at or near the Translink Short Strand Bus Depot but photographed this at Lower Stansfield Street so I assume that there must be at least versions.
The first fatalities of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Con Keating, Daniel Sheehan and Charlie Monahan drowned when the car they were in went off the pier at Ballykissane pier outside Killorglin on Good Friday night 1916. They were on their way to Cahirciveen to seize the wireless station at Valentia Island with a view to transmitting a series of false signals which would fool the Royal Navy into believing that a German attack on Scottish naval bases was imminent. It was hoped that such a move would allow the Aud, the German ship carrying arms for the Irish Volunteers, to proceed unmolested through Irish waters.
On the 24th April the Irish Times reported the following: Three men, whose names are unknown, were drowned in the River Laune, near Killorglin, Thursday night. They were motoring towards Tralee and, taking the wrong turn, the car went over the quay wall, and the three men were drowned. The chauffeur escaped. Two of the bodies were recovered last evening.
Note: The accident actually occurred on the Friday and not on Thursday.
The first fatalities of the 1916 Easter Rising.
Con Keating, Daniel Sheehan and Charlie Monahan drowned when the car they were in went off the pier at Ballykissane pier outside Killorglin on Good Friday night 1916. They were on their way to Cahirciveen to seize the wireless station at Valentia Island with a view to transmitting a series of false signals which would fool the Royal Navy into believing that a German attack on Scottish naval bases was imminent. It was hoped that such a move would allow the Aud, the German ship carrying arms for the Irish Volunteers, to proceed unmolested through Irish waters.
On the 24th April the Irish Times reported the following: Three men, whose names are unknown, were drowned in the River Laune, near Killorglin, Thursday night. They were motoring towards Tralee and, taking the wrong turn, the car went over the quay wall, and the three men were drowned. The chauffeur escaped. Two of the bodies were recovered last evening.
Note: The accident actually occurred on the Friday and not on Thursday.
THE GLIDER PHOTOGRAPHED MARCH 2019
Glider is a bus rapid transit system in Belfast designed to improve the efficiency of mass transit in the city by connecting East and West Belfast and the Titanic Quarter via the city centre. The service is operated by Translink.
There are two routes, G1 and G2. The busways total 15.2 miles (24.5 km) in length and consist of both dedicated bus lanes and mixed traffic lanes. Constructed at a cost of approximately £100m some of which was provided by the EU. It operates a fleet of 18m-long Van Hool ExquiCity articulated buses. The first services of the day commence at 5:21am, and the final services depart at 11:06pm. Services operate on a 7-9 minute interval, reducing to 4-6 minutes at peak times.
The vehicles are Van Hool ExquiCity 18 articulated buses of a light tram design with three doors and approximately 18 metres in length. The interior is a mixture of seating and standing, free WI-FI, real-time visual and audible information and CCTV to ensure safety. The diesel hybrid electrical engines emit a low level of pollution and noise complying with environmental concerns. In October, 2017, the specific vehicle, called the Glider, was unveiled at the Busworld Europe exhibition in Belgium.
There are two routes, G1 and G2. The busways total 15.2 miles (24.5 km) in length and consist of both dedicated bus lanes and mixed traffic lanes. Constructed at a cost of approximately £100m some of which was provided by the EU. It operates a fleet of 18m-long Van Hool ExquiCity articulated buses. The first services of the day commence at 5:21am, and the final services depart at 11:06pm. Services operate on a 7-9 minute interval, reducing to 4-6 minutes at peak times.
The vehicles are Van Hool ExquiCity 18 articulated buses of a light tram design with three doors and approximately 18 metres in length. The interior is a mixture of seating and standing, free WI-FI, real-time visual and audible information and CCTV to ensure safety. The diesel hybrid electrical engines emit a low level of pollution and noise complying with environmental concerns. In October, 2017, the specific vehicle, called the Glider, was unveiled at the Busworld Europe exhibition in Belgium.
ST PATRICK'S BALLYMACARRETT CHURCH OF IRELAND PARISH CHURCH NEWTOWNARDS ROAD MARCH 2019
This image demonstrates just how much the Harland and Wolff cranes Samson & Goliath dominate the Belfast skyline.
According to contacts in Belfast the Newtownards Road is generally safe and well lit at night. One potential flashpoint is the interface with the nationalist Short Strand neighbourhood. Though fairly well kept and safe during the day, it is best to avoid this area at night.
According to a local that I had a chat with this large Church of Ireland Parish Church was rebuilt after the War to the original plans, having been destroyed in the Blitz.
Here is an extract from the churche's mission statement: Due to the extensive redevelopment and the ’Troubles', the demography of the area has changed enormously in recent years and is still grappling with regeneration. This may explain why I found the area to be more than a little bit confusing.
Ballymacarrett or Ballymacarret (from Irish Baile Mhic Gearóid 'MacGearóid's settlement') is the name of both a townland and electoral ward in Belfast. The townland is in County Down and the electoral ward is part of the Titanic district electoral area of Belfast City Council.
The ward was created in 1973 with most of the population coming from the former Pottinger ward. The ward was slightly enlarged in 1985, taking in part of the Island ward.
The ward consists of two distinct districts : Ballymacarrett itself, which is almost entirely Protestant, and the Short Strand which is almost entirely Catholic, with the two separated by a peaceline. Consequently, in the 2001 census, the Roman Catholic community background figure was 51%.
Set in the shadows of the Harland and Wolff cranes Samson & Goliath, large numbers of local men worked in the shipyard during its heyday. The area is also well known for 'Ulster's Freedom Corner', a series of loyalist murals.
Ballymacarrett and the nearby Newtownards Road played a key part in what became known as the 2011 Northern Ireland riots. At first, the riots were only located in the area and were known as the 2011 East Belfast riots but by July, the riots had spread to other parts of the region.
According to contacts in Belfast the Newtownards Road is generally safe and well lit at night. One potential flashpoint is the interface with the nationalist Short Strand neighbourhood. Though fairly well kept and safe during the day, it is best to avoid this area at night.
According to a local that I had a chat with this large Church of Ireland Parish Church was rebuilt after the War to the original plans, having been destroyed in the Blitz.
Here is an extract from the churche's mission statement: Due to the extensive redevelopment and the ’Troubles', the demography of the area has changed enormously in recent years and is still grappling with regeneration. This may explain why I found the area to be more than a little bit confusing.
Ballymacarrett or Ballymacarret (from Irish Baile Mhic Gearóid 'MacGearóid's settlement') is the name of both a townland and electoral ward in Belfast. The townland is in County Down and the electoral ward is part of the Titanic district electoral area of Belfast City Council.
The ward was created in 1973 with most of the population coming from the former Pottinger ward. The ward was slightly enlarged in 1985, taking in part of the Island ward.
The ward consists of two distinct districts : Ballymacarrett itself, which is almost entirely Protestant, and the Short Strand which is almost entirely Catholic, with the two separated by a peaceline. Consequently, in the 2001 census, the Roman Catholic community background figure was 51%.
Set in the shadows of the Harland and Wolff cranes Samson & Goliath, large numbers of local men worked in the shipyard during its heyday. The area is also well known for 'Ulster's Freedom Corner', a series of loyalist murals.
Ballymacarrett and the nearby Newtownards Road played a key part in what became known as the 2011 Northern Ireland riots. At first, the riots were only located in the area and were known as the 2011 East Belfast riots but by July, the riots had spread to other parts of the region.
