BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast has a long and often turbulent history. This tour of the capital city of Northern Ireland, takes you through the landmarks that have played their part in the city’s colourful development, from its great industrial triumphs to the civil unrest, which was often tarnished Belfast’s image.

Belfast has a long and often turbulent history. This tour of the capital city of Northern Ireland, takes you through the landmarks that have played their part in the city’s colourful development, from its great industrial triumphs to the civil unrest, which was often tarnished Belfast’s image. This tour reflects the drive, determination and pride that Belfast undoubtedly has in its wealth of skill and talent. The two German built giant cranes of Harland and Wolff shipyard, affectionately know as Samson and Goliath, dominate the Belfast skyline. We will make our first stop to photograph Belfast City Hall – an impressive building with a 300ft long façade of Portland stone, which dominates Donegall Square. The most notable feature of the grounds in Brock’s marble figure Thane, in memorial to the victims of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The ship was built in Harland and Wolff’s shipyard located in the east of the city. We will enjoy commentary on such sights as the Grand Opera House and the Albert Memorial before stopping at Queen’s University. Queen’s University was established in 1845 by Queen Victoria as one of the three Colleges of Ireland, the others being at Cork and Galway. The Lanyon designed main building in the Tudor Gothic style is one of the iconic buildings of Belfast’s skyline, and the finest Victorian architectural set-piece in the Province, queen’s is famous for its graduates such as Mary McAleese, current President of Ireland, Nobel Prize winning poet Seamus Heaney and Northern Ireland’s First Minister David Trimble. We will take a walk through the ground of the college and pass the Palm House, located in the neighbouring Botanic Gardens – a superb structure of cast iron and curved glass panels built even before Kew Gardens opened in London in 1839. We will take a drive though the alternative sights of Belfast including the political wall murals located on the Protestant Shankill Road and the Catholic Falls Road, which are a unique cultural experience. Time will be permitted for photographs. We will also see the former Crumlin Road Court House and Crumlin Jail (both of these venues were for political offenders only) and The Peace Line. We will then travel a short distance outside the city to see Stormont Castle, seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly. A symbol of progress to Northern Ireland’s troubled past, the power sharing executive with responsibility for Northern affairs from this impressive building. Our return journey will then be made back to our awaiting ship. Please note there is a very limited amount of walking involved in this tour and it is possible to remain on the coach at each stop, however to get the most out of this tour we do not recommend this. There are approximately 10 steps and 300 yards of walking involved at Queen’s University.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES