The decision to target Belfast in 1941 during the tumultuous days of World War II was not arbitrary; rather, it was driven by a combination of strategic military considerations and the city’s significant industrial capabilities. Belfast held immense strategic importance…
Forrest Reid (1875-1947) was a Northern Irish novelist, literary critic, and translator, renowned for his significant contributions to literature. He resided at 20 Mount Charles in Belfast and was the youngest son in a Protestant family of twelve, six of…
I’m doing 6 walking tours for BIAF: DRS/DISEASES: on 18.10.25 & 1.11.25, at 11am & 2pm. Book: belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/event/drs-an… ANTI SLAVERY BELFAST: on 25.10.25 & 3.11.25, at 11am & 2pm. Book: belfastinternationalartsfestival.com/event/belfas…
Over the the last month, I’ve received some positive feed back. The first one was for a Troubles Tour and the second was for a Dr/Disease tour I lead on 18.10.25 as part of Belfast International Arts Festival.
The Samaritan Hospital for Women in Belfast was founded in 1872 by Dr. W. K. McClordie. Two years later, in 1874, the current building was erected thanks to the generosity of Edward Bonn, a notable benefactor of Belfast’s charitable institutions.…
Queen’s University Belfast, officially known as The Queen’s University of Belfast (commonly referred to as “Queen’s”, “Queen’s University”, and “QUB”), is a prestigious public research university located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university was chartered in 1845 as “Queen’s College,…
In this article I reflect on Tourism NI’s draft Corporate Plan 2025–2028, which I was invited to comment on through its consultation. I outline what the Plan proposes, why it matters for Northern Ireland’s tourism sector, and where it falls short. While the…
Elmwood Hall, now a modern concert hall owned by Queen’s University Belfast, was originally built as the Elmwood Presbyterian Church in 1862. The building showcases a blend of architectural styles, predominantly Italianate, featuring a spire atop a campanile. The design…
George John Mitchell Jr., born on August 20, 1933, is a renowned American politician, diplomat, and lawyer. He served as a United States senator from Maine from 1980 to 1995, and as Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995. Post-Senate,…
Miss Isabella “Ella” Barbour Pirrie (1857-1929) was a pioneering nurse in Belfast. She was the first nurse at the Belfast Union Workhouse Infirmary and founded its nursing school. Later, she became the first matron of the Deaconess Hospital in Edinburgh.…
