belfast

Titanic in Belfast
SS Nomadic
Titanic’s ‘little sister’ was built in Belfast at the same
time as her famous sibling. The last White Star Line
vessel afloat, Nomadic provides a unique link with Belfast’s
maritime heritage.
The luxurious interior and quarter size dimensions reflected
Titanic’s whose 1st and 2nd class passengers
she ferried from Cherbourg ahead of the liner’s illfated
Atlantic crossing.
During her eclectic lifetime, Nomadic served in both
World Wars, tendered thousands more trans-Atlantic
passengers and spent three decades on the Seine as a
floating restaurant.
Famous passengers included the ‘Unsinkable’ Molly
Brown, Marie Curie, Charlie Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor
and Richard Burton.
Nomadic was purchased in 2006 by the local government
and, following several years’ restoration, resides
beneath the shadow of Titanic Belfast.
Inside, touch screens, info panels, displays and projected
characters from Titanic’s heyday recount her fascinating
past. Compare the 1st and 2nd class quarters,
explore the engine room and peek into the Captain’s
cabin and crew quarters to imagine what life was like
for Nomadic’s inhabitants. Guides will help explain her
history, while period costumes and games keep children
entertained.
Through it all, the sobering reality that remains is that
one third of Nomadic’s 172 Titanic passengers perished
with the ship.
A small shop and coffee dock are on site, and regular
events are reflect this unique space - check online for
the latest details. Paid parking at Titanic Belfast and
the Odyssey.Q G-2, Hamilton Dry Dock, Queens
Rd, www.nomadicbelfast.com. Daily 10:00 - 18:00.
Adult £8.50, 5-16 £5, U5 Free, Conc. £6.50, 2+2 £22,
2+3 £27.
Titanic Walking Tour
Follow in the footsteps of Titanic’s builders in this, the city’s
only Titanic Walking Tour. Tour guide Colin Cobb and his
team’s extensive knowledge leaves no fact unearthed -
even down to the number of apples on board the doomed
liner (36,000, if you’re asking). The 90min tour takes in several
significant shipyard locations - including Titanic Belfast,
Titanic’s Dock & Pump-House and access to the 44ft deep
Dry Dock where the ship was fitted out. The entertaining
and detailed insight is suitable for all ages - whether a
self-professed Titanorak or not. QD-1, dept. front Titanic
Belfast, Queen’s Road. M26, tel. (+44) (0)7546 489875,
www.titanicwalk.com. Tours Sat & Sun 12:00. Adult £9,
10-16 £7, U10 £5, U5 free, 2+2 £28 (incl. Pump-House
Tour). Y
Titanic’s Thompson Dry Dock
In a part of Belfast where two cultures collide, tourism bodies
are working together to revitalise the area and make it
visitor-friendly. Lots of tourists want to see for themselves
the recent political history of this divided city and, in doing
so, are often surprised at just how close these two communities
sit... the Unionist Shankill and Nationalist Falls side-byside,
divided only by a Peace Line. With both sides making a
concerted effort to attract visitors, it’s worth taking time out
from the main attractions to visit these vibrant areas. Hop
off the Open Top Bus or take a Metro bus or Black Taxi and
explore at your leisure.
Falls Road
Bi-lingual street signs and fluttering Irish flags are the first
things visitors often notice when they walk along the Falls.
The area is becoming known as the Gaeltacht Quarter, with
many shops and businesses offering Irish-language service
and accepting Euros. Of the road’s many historical and
political murals, the most photographed is on the side of
the Sinn Fein offices and features IRA hunger striker Bobby
Sands. For tourist info visit www.visitwestbelfast.com.QF-
2/3M10
Clonard Monastery
Built in 1911 in early French Gothic-style, and boasting a
6m-wide stained-glass rose window, this imposing church
and monastery is home to the Redemptorists. This Catholic
movement was founded in Italy in 1732 and its story is
depicted in floor and ceiling mosaics. The interior also features
red granite, Portland stone and marble columns. The
crypt was used as a WW2 air-raid shelter and contains the
bodies of over 20 priests - one of them the architect’s son.
Each June Clonard Church hosts a nine-day Festival of Faith
when 15,000 daily pilgrims pray at the shrine of Our Mother
of Perpetual Help. It is a spectacular sight and well worth a
visit if you’re in town. Outside this time, the Church is also
used as an impressive backdrop for occasional music per-
1. Divis Tower
2. St. Peter’s Cathedral
3. International Wall
4. Falls Remembrance Garden
5. Conway Mill
6. Bobby Sands Mural
7. Clonard Monastery
8. Royal Victoria Hospital
West Belfast & Shankill
formances. Q F-2, Clonard Gardens, off Falls Rd., M10,
tel. (+44) (0)28 9044 5950, www.clonard.com. Sun Mass
07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 12:30.
Conway Mill
West Belfast evolved as country people moved to the city
to work in its 32 mills. Though many have gone, this imposing
19th century linen mill remains, and today houses crafts,
workshops and small weekly market. The Irish Republican
History Museum has been set up by a local community
group and consists of artefacts and archive material from
former prisons. The Museum is open Tues-Sat 10:00-14:00 or
on request for group tours. Mill Tours also available. QF-2,
5-7 Conway St, M10, tel. (+44) (0)28 9032 6452, www.
conwaymill.org. K
Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
First stop for all tourists
has to be this newly
extended three-story
landmark where the
Irish language plays a
central role in culture
and the arts. Housed
in a former Presbyterian
church and named
after two 19th Century
protagonists of the Irish
language revival, the
centre was established
in 1991 and has a restaurant,
theatre, art gallery,
book & gift shop and regular céilís (traditional Irish music
and dancing sessions). Culturlann provides the focal point for
August’s West Belfast Festival and is also the official West Belfast
Tourist Information Point. Qoff F-3, 216 Falls Rd, tel. (+44) (0)28
9096 4180, www.culturlann.ie. KY
9. Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich
10. Rise Sculpture
11. James Connolly Plaque
12. City Cemetery
13. Bog Meadows
14. Falls Park
15. Milltown Cemetery
38 Belfast In Your Pocket belfast.inyourpocket.com
facebook.com/BELFASTIYP
August - Septemeber 2014 39