C.S.Lewis (Clive Staples Lewis) was born on November 29, 1898, in East Belfast. He had written more than 30 books but was most noted for his “Chronicles of Narnia,” Lewis was also a lay theologian. Because he had spent his early childhood in East Belfast, the city decided to honor the life and works of one of its most famous authors by creating a square in his name in his old neighborhood. Irish artist, Maurice Harron, was commissioned to sculpt seven bronze statues of characters from Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.”
Located beside the Eastside Visitors Center, the C.S.Lewis Square’s statues include Aslan the Lion; Maugrim; Mr.&Mrs. Beaver; The Robin; The White Witch; The Stone Table; and Mr. Tumnus. On the edge of the Square, next to the Eastside library, is an additional sculpture of “The Seeker and The Wardrobe.”
Lewis had been close friends with fellow author, J.R.R.Tolkein, both of whom had served on the English Faculty at Oxford University. C.S.Lewis died on November 22, 1963, just one week shy of his 65th birthday.
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Noted author, C.S.Lewis was best known for his “Chronicles of Narnia.”

This Square, which reportedly can accommodate up to 2000 people, was created in Lewis’ old neighborhood of East Belfast to honor his life and works.

Irish artist Maurice Harron creates seven statues of characters from “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” (tastefully placed in landscaped areas around the square), including “Aslan the Lion”...

...”Maugrim”...

...”Mr. & Mrs. Beaver”...

...”The Robin”...

...”The White Witch”...

...”The Stone Table”...

...and “Mr. Tumnus.”

In addition, next to the Eastside Library is this sculpture of “The Seeker and The Wardrobe.”

The library offers free copies of this map to help visitors locate each of the statues around the square. We truly enjoyed visiting the square as well as the library, which had multiple copies of his works in various languages. We had heard about the square but never expected the uniqueness of what we found there. This was delightful!

Originally founded in 1788, by a group of artisans, as the “Belfast Reading Society,” the White Linen Hall Library is the oldest, and the last subscribing, library in the city. Four years later, it’s name was changed to the “BelfastSociety for Promoting Knowledge” and began acquiring books (especially those related to Irish topics), as well as other items that would advance knowledge. By the 1790’s, the library membership began to decline because of a lack of a permanent building. This decline reversed itself by 1802 when the Society moved into what it thought would be its permanent premises; the White Linen Hall (a former international linen exchange), from which it took its name - although its legal name remained the “Belfast Society for Promoting Knowledge.”
Throughout the 19th century, the library continued to struggle with membership levels because of its increasing conservatism ( at one time even excluding students from Queen’s College and debating whether or not to include works of fiction). As it approached its 100th anniversary, the library lost its “permanent” premises in order to make way for the construction of a new City Hall. It eventually moved to a warehouse (previously used for storing linen) further down Donnegall Street. During this period, the Society’s membership became increasingly ambitious in regards to its collection of books and began to develop cultural programs.
Following World War II, and then through the decades of “The Troubles,” membership again began to decline. By 1980, proposals were being made to permanently close the library. The public came to the library’s rescue with an earnest effort to save it, which proved successful. A fund raiser was established to renovate and update the building, with construction commencing in 1999 and completion on September 16, 2000.

Diagonally opposite Belfast City Hall is the current home of the White Linen Hall Library...

... with its beautiful curving staircase.

The original White Linen Hall building was used as an International Linen Exchange.

When the original building was torn down to make way for Belfast’s new City Hall, the library moved down the street to its present location.

There are a number of “Members Only” reading areas.

A significant portion of the library’s collections pertain to the history of Ireland.

We were amazed to find an original copy of the Acts of the Continental Congress of the United States here in Northern Ireland. These Acts were created in 1789 and printed in Wilmington in 1790 (as noted on this page). And we got to hold it in our own hands!

We even got to hold an original copy of the Constitution of the United States, without wearing gloves!

Ten miles east of the Giant’s Causeway is the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. This 66 foot long, 18 inch wide, walkway links the tiny island of Carrickarede ( meaning “Rock of the Casting”) with the main land. Geologists believe the island was originally formed over 60 million years ago, when molten rock erupted through the characteristic Ulster Chalk to create a volcanic plug. Sitting 98 feet above the rocks and sea, the first bridge was thought to have been constructed in 1757 by salmon fishermen who wanted to use the island as a base. When the salmon industry began to fade, the rope bridge took on a new life, as a tourist attraction.
As late as the 1970’s, the rope bridge still had only one handrail and large gaps between its slats. In 2000, with the help of mountain climbers and abseilierrs (rappellers), a new bridge, tested to to hold ten tons of weight, was built. While on Carrickarede Island, if the weather is clear enough, you can see Scotland across the waters.
Today, as a mostly tourist site, it is owned by the National Trust and sees nearly 500,000 visitors per year.While the bridge itself was never feature in the “Game of Thrones”, one of its parking lots was used for scenes depicting Renly Baratheon’s War Camp.
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A view of the rope bridge from the long pathway that leads from the main parking lot.

This view is from the island looking back towards the main land. Because the National Trust (which owns the site) limits the number of folks on the bridge at any one time ( and only one direction at a time), when there are crowds, there tends to be traffic jams.

“We have to cross THAT...TWICE!”

Fearless Lorraine. Well... she comes by it honestly. Afterall, two of her ancestors were the iron workers pictured in the famous 1932 photograph “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper.”

Now...that’s nuts.

1890’s sketch of the bridge.

As we were crossing the bridge, we saw this very interesting cave off to the right. Wonder if it has been explored? [Notice the white chalk line on the right of the picture. That’s some of the Ulster Chalk that the molten rock blasted through 60 million years ago to create the island].

This lower bridge parking lot was the location for Renly Baratheon’s War Camp in Game of Thrones.

Approximately sixty miles north-north west of Belfast are the forty thousand interlocking Basalt columns known as the “Giant’s Causeway.” Formed somewhere between 50 and 60 million years ago from an ancient volcanic eruption, in what is now County Antrim on Northern Ireland’s North coast, some of the columns reach heights of nearly 40 feet.
The Causeway is steeped in Gaelic Mythology. The most frequently told story claims that these are the remains of a raised roadway, built by the giant Finn MacCool, across the North Channel. It seems that MacCool was challenged to a fight with the Scottish giant Benandonner. MacCool built the Causeway so that the two could meet face-to-face. In this most popular version of the legend, MacCool’s wife disguised him as a baby. When the Scottish Benandonner saw the size of the baby, he thought the father must be a “...giant among giants” and fled back to Scotland destroying the Causeway behind him (it might be interesting to read the Scottish version of this tale. Bet it would be different).
Irish artist Susanna Drury’s 1739 water color paintings of the Causeway turned it into an international sensation. By the 19th century, it had become a top tourist attraction in Northern Ireland, and remains so to this very day. The Giant’s Causeway has been featured in the series “Game of Thrones” (2011 to 2019) and in such films as the 2011 “Your Highness” and the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony; “Isles of Wonder.” Indeed, they are stunning!

A small part of the 40,000 Basalt columns that make up the Giant’s Causeway.

While geological evidence state these were formed by a volcanic eruption some 50 to 60 million years ago, Gaelic Mythology claims they were constructed by the giant Finn MacCool 81 miles across the North Channel to Fingal’s Cave in Staffa Scotland so he could fight the Scottish giant Benandonner.

“If we sit on the Giant’s Causeway, can we become giants also?”

“Oh, look. The giant, Finn MacCool, left behind one of his boots.”

There are several fascinating features on this site, such as this series of columns known as the “Pipe Organ”...

...and this one called the “Chimney.”

Follow your nose (for 81 miles) and you’ll be in Scotland.

What a wonderful place! It’s unbelievable!

In the heart of Belfast, opposite the Opera House and the famous Europa Hotel, is Northern Ireland’s most famous pub - “The Crown Liquor Saloon” ( known colloquially as “The Crown Pub”).
Originally built in 1826 (making it Belfast’s oldest pub) by Felix O’Hanlon, in the Victorian style, it was known then as “The Railway Tavern.” O’Hanlon sold the pub sixty years later to Michael Flanagan, who renamed it “The Crown Liquor Saloon” and began renovations. Flanagan persuaded many of the Italian craftsmen, who had been brought to Ireland to build its many new churches, to work on his pub after hours. This level of craftsmanship cemented the pub’s reputation as one of “...the finest Victorian Gin Palaces of its time.” Northern Ireland’s National Trust bought the property in 1978 in order to preserve it as a historical site, and funded a nearly half-million dollar refurbishment to restore the pub to its original Victorian appearance. The Trust leases the property to Mitchell’s and Butler’s restaurant management chain, who run it as “Nicholson’s Pub” ( although everyone knows it as The Crown Pub).
An impressive mosaic tile floor, depicting a monarch’s crown, greets customers/visitors at the main entrance. The ground floor bar has a heated foot-rest and is lit by gas lamps. What really impressed us were the ten fully enclosed booths which afforded the conservative Victorian customers some privacy while imbibing alcohol. These booths were elegantly wood-carved structures and included an antique bell service to alert staff to needed “refreshments.” Upstairs was a luxurious area for dining. We were delighted to have taken the opportunity to explore this wonderful venue.

Officially known as “The Crown Liquor Saloon,” locals know it as “ The Crown Bar.” (This view is from in front of the Opera House across the street.)

However, since the Mitchell’s and Butler’s Restaurant Management Corporation took over the lease from the National Trust in 1978, they have called it “Nicholson’s Pub” (confusing, isn’t it?).

The second owner of the pub, Michael Flanagan, persuaded Italian craftsmen, who had been imported to work on new churches throughout the country, to refurbish his newly acquired establishment, after hours.

With heated footrests and gas lamps, the bar area is a resplendent piece of architecture.

What really impressed us were these ten fully enclosed booths which allowed the very conservative Victorian customers, a modicum of privacy while they imbibed. (Unfortunately for us, when we were visiting this establishment, they were doing some electrical work, so nothing was “officially” open (but they did allow us in for pictures).

Each booth had an antique bell service which allowed customers to notify staff that they required refills, without having to get up and go to the bar themselves.

While the upstairs dining rooms were not as luxuriously appointed as the downstairs bar...

...they were still pleasant and comfortable.

“Titanic”; the word itself engenders many images; luxury, a huge ship, icebergs, disaster! Just about everyone knows some part of its story.
Titanic began its existence (on March 31, 1909) in the 185 acre Harland & Wolff shipyard on Queen’s Island in Belfast, with construction of the massive ship being completed (and its being launched) on May 31, 1911. The shipyard’s very large slipways and graving docks (i.e. dry docks) where the two largest luxury ships of their time - Titanic and Olympic -were constructed, was dominated by the massive H & W cranes, named “Samson” and “Goliath” ( they are still watching over the site).
Following many years of use, the shipyard fell onto hard times when the shipbuilding industry began to decline. Once the H & W yards oficially ceased operations, developers quickly came up with plans to use the site for housing , hotels, entertainment venues, as well as a maritime heritage museum.
The eventual design of the museum was to reflect ships’ prows, with its main prow pointing down the middle of Titanic’s and Olympic’s slipway to the River Lagan. In a quirk of irony, locals felt the building resembled the shape of an iceberg and took to calling it “The Iceberg.” Officially opened in 2012 ( on the hundredth anniversary of Titanic’s maiden and fateful voyage) the museum is dedicated as a monument to Belfast’s maritime history.
The museum’s nine exhibit halls depict the many aspects of Belfast’s seafaring community, as well as the story of Titanic and its sinking. On the building’s top floor is a 750 seat conference center (the largest in the city), which includes a reproduction of Titanic’s original Grand Staircase. Close to one million visitors per year enjoy everything this building has to offer.

Centered on the 185 acre former Harland & Wolff shipyard, the Titanic Museum is a top attraction in Belfast...

...which drew two pseudo-mariners in for a visit.

“Samson” and “Goliath” still stand watch over the former shipyard.

Sitting in one of the shipyards dry docks, the RMS Nomadic used to ferry passengers to Titanic as its was anchored out in the bay off the coast of Cherbourg, France (after originally sailing from Northampton).

Once, this was the slipway that launched both Titanic and Olympic, the two largest luxury ships of their times.

Archival photo of a Titanic on its maiden voyage.

First class passengers had very pleasant and comfortable cabins...

...while second class was not quite so luxurious...

...and third class was...well...just a dormitory.

Seventy three years (1985) after its sinking, oceanographer Robert Ballard discovered the remains of the Titanic ( supposedly while on a secret mission for the U.S. Navy).

It was an amazing find!

Situated in the heart of Belfast’s “Cathedral Quarter” ( and not far from the River Lagan) is the Cathedral Church of St. Anne...also known as the Belfast Cathedral. This Protestant Church of Ireland is unusual in that it serves two dioceses ( that of Connor and Down/Dromore), with two bishops, instead of one.
Prior to the Cathedral’s construction, an older parish church of St. Anne (built in 1776) occupied this site. The foundation stone for the current Cathedral was laid on September 6, 1899 by the Countess of Shaftesbury, Constance Ashley-Cooper and the new Cathedral was constructed around the older parish church. When the Cathedral was completed, the older parish church was demolished. In 1941, the building was nearly destroyed when a German bomb exploded nearby. Extensive repairs were needed to bring it back to its original appearance.
​ Today’s structure is the result of many stages of construction over the years, with “The Troubles” of the mid-to-late 1900’s causing long delays. Its 131 foot tall stainless steel spire - known as the “Spire of Hope” - was added in April of 2007. The Cathedral’s organ is the second largest pipe-organ in Northern Ireland (after St. Peter’s parish church also in Belfast). Sisters Margaret and Gertrude Martin created the mosaics in the Cathedral’s Interior.

Serving the Dioces of Connor and Down/Dromore, the Cathedral Church of St. Anne ( more popularly known as “Belfast Cathedral”) is the focal point of the city’s Cathedral Quarter. It sits on the same site as the late 18th century Parish Church of St. Anne.

Built in stages over many, many years, it’s foundation stone was originally laid in 1899.

In many respects, it is typical in appearance as other cathedrals we have visited elsewhere.

Artist’s rendition of the architect’s vision of the Cathedral.

It’s impressive mosaics were fabricated by the sisters Gertrude and Margaret Martin.

This is considered to be the second largest pipe organ in Northern Ireland (after Belfast’s St. Peter’s Church).

The stained glass windows were as beautiful as we’d seen elsewhere.

Situated close to the River Lagan, St. George’s Market is the last surviving Victorian covered market in Belfast.
Prior to 1890 ( even as far back as 1604), St. George’s Market was an open air venue with a slaughter house and a meat market. Then, in 1890, the “Belfast Corporation” ( now known as the “City Council”) commissioned the construction of a covered market. Built in three phases, construction was completed in 1896.
The original, much smaller building than today’s, included Roman styled arches with inscriptions in both Irish and Latin. During World War II, German aircraft heavily bombed Belfast, resulting in St. George’s Market being turned into an emergency morgue for the identification of hundreds of victims. By the 1980’s , the Market had become a “General Market.” As that decade closed, it became evident that the building was seriously decaying and in need of much repair work. A 4.2 million dollar refurbishment fund was established to bring the building up to current codes. The work was completed and the market re-opened on May 14, 1999.
Today, St. George’s Market, which is only open on week-ends, plays host to over 300 food venders, crafters, Trade merchants, and musicians. During weekdays, the site is often used for other events, such as art exhibitions, charity launches, festivals, business demonstrations, and live music happenings. We passed the Market every day on our way to explore Belfast city center, and were always on the lookout for what interesting events might be taking place here.

When St. George’s Market was first established, as an open air venue in the early 1600’s, its location close to the Lagan river made it convenient for locals to transport their wares by water into the city.

Its East Bridge Street Location also puts it an easy ten minute walk to the heart of the city.

This massive hall can handle over 300 food venders...

...as well as trade sellers and crafters of all types.

Our mouths were watering over some of the fresh foods offered.

Early 1900’s photo of the newly constructed covered Victorian market.

Even though the food market is only open on week-ends, the venue is utilized for other events during weekdays. We happened upon this one as we were heading into downtown.

Curious about the name, we went in and discovered it had nothing to do with tracing ancestry but rather was a business exhibition.

It was an interesting event, but...

...our main interest in this venue was the week-end food market...yummm!

Once the site for the “White Linen Hall” ( an important International Linen Exchange), Belfast’s City Hall now divides the commercial and business districts of the city center.
Up until the early 1600’s, Belfast was just a small settlement, having achieved “town” status in 1613. However, with industrialization, the city rapidly expanded, eventually being granted “city” status by Queen Victoria in 1888. Its linen, rope making, and ship building industries were responsible for this rapid growth. With its new status, city authorities began to plan for a new city hall building that would reflect the city’s growing reputation. Construction for the new building began in 1888 and completed 18 years later.
Covering 1.5 acres, surrounding an enclosed courtyard, the building has towers at its four corners and an impressive 173 foot lantern-crowned copper dome in its center. Due to its elegant design, Belfast’s City Hall became the model for an almost exact replica in Durban, South Africa.
From its very beginning, Belfast’s City Hall has had a very close connection with RMS Titanic. Viscount William Pirrie, the city’s Lord Mayor from 1896 to 1898, was also the managing director of Harland and Wolff shipbuilders ( the company that built the Titanic). Pirrie has been credited with developing the ideas for both construction projects.
The building’s Great Hall (i.e. ballroom) was the only part destroyed by German bombings during World War II. Fortunately, its wonderful stained glass windows depicting monarchs who had visited the city prior to 1906 ((King William III, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII) had been removed in 1939 for safe keeping, and re-installed when the room was rebuilt. The remaining stained glass windows depict the city’s Coat of Arms, and those of the four Provences of Northern Ireland. The gardens outside the building are a popular place for office workers to enjoy their lunches.
INTERESTING FACT: Due to pressure from the city council’s Irish Nationalists member, on December 3, 2012, an act was passed to limit the number of days the Union Flag (the British flag) could be flown from City Hall to no more than 18 days per year.

Constructed between 1888 and 1906, Belfast’s City Hall is in the heart of the city center.

Before City Hall was developed, this site was occupied by the “ White Linen Hall,” an International Linen Exchange.

Archival photo of City Hall under construction.

The Grand Foyer of City Hall...

...as viewed from the second floor balcony.

City Council chambers...

... with “temporary” Lord Mayors.

The Great Hall (ballroom) was severely damaged by German bombings during World War II, but was quickly rebuilt.

Through good planning, the Great Hall’s stained glass windows (such as this one depicting Queen Victoria) were removed Just prior to the outbreak of war, for safe keeping.

Three of the windows depicted monarchs who had visited Belfast (Queen Victoria, William III, and Edward VII), while the rest depicted the Coats of Arms of Northern Ireland’s four Provence’s (such as this one for Munster), as well as Belfast’s Coat of Arms.

While “The Troubles” officially ended with the signing of the Good Friday Peace Agreement in 1998, some tensions still reside just below the surface, exhibiting themselves with occasional protests in front of City Hall.

While we were here, local BBC radio host, John Toal, asked to interview us about our travels for his weekly show.