Belfast, Northern Ireland

Holywood Priory Church

High Street on the corner of the Bangor Road HOLYWOOD BT19 9AB Where is this?
Location East Belfast Greater Belfast - North Down Beyond Belfast - Down
Holywood’s rich ecclesiastical heritage is represented today by its most distinctive building, the Old Priory. The site is a monastery founded by St. Laiseran in the early 7th Century. The present ruins are 12th century Anglo-Norman Augustinian Abbey built by Thomas Whyte and much of these ruins remain. After the Black death (1348-1350) Niall O’Neill refurbished the church for the Franciscan Order. The Priory was dissolved on New Years Day, 1541, by Henry VIII with its lands passing into the hands of the O’Neill family and then to Sir James Hamilton, First Viscount Clandeboye. Hamilton laid out the town, with a maypole at the crossroads and most of the early buildings are clustered round the Priory. The tower dates from the 1800’s when this was the site of the town’s Parish Church. The graveyard has some interesting “residents” including members of the Praeger family, the Dunvilles of whiskey fame and Sir Joseph Larmor the world famous mathematician.

Belfast City Hall Donegall Square BELFAST BT1 5GS
Location City Centre
Free public tours of City Hall are available Monday - Saturday. Led by an experienced guide, they last around one hour and uncover the history of Belfast City Hall, while exploring some of its finest features. Public tours are available at the following times: Monday to Friday - 11am, 2pm and 3pm, Saturday - 2pm and 3pm. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis (no booking needed) and leave from the reception area inside Belfast City Hall. Group tours Private group tours must be booked in advance and outside of public tour times. To book a private group tour call us on 028 9027 0456. The grounds of Belfast City Hall are the most central piece of green space in Belfast. They are a popular place to meet for lunch and are used throughout the year for various council-funded events such as Proms in the Park and the Christmas & Spring Continental Markets. The grounds contain a number of famous statues, including a memorial to the Titanic and those who perished with her and statues of Queen Victoria and Sir Edward Harland, the former head of Harland and Wolff shipbuilding yard. They are also used to house temporary exhibitions and fairs, as well as the popular Wheel of Belfast attraction. The White House Heritage Centre 28 - 34 Whitehouse Park Newtownabbey BT37 9SQ Where is this? Location Greater Belfast - Newtownabbey All Northern Ireland The White House has nestled on the Northern Shore of Belfast Lough for over 400 years. This building has witnessed many scenes from the sailing ships that carried King Williams Armies, the Titanic sailing on her maiden voyage, to the Luftwaffe bombers using Belfast Lough as their gateway into the city. The Plantation Bawn has recently been restored from a crumbling building into a beautiful and multipurpose space. The Bawn now hosts two exciting interactive exhibitions ‘A Tale of Three Kings’ recounting the Williamite and Jacobite Wars from a European perspective, and ‘Relive the History’ which tells the exciting story of the buildings past right up to the present day. A Tale of Three Kings – Is an enlightening interactive exhibition that tells you about the only truly European war ever fought on Irish Soil. You will be transported around Europe and taken to all the major events that happened along the way. A Tale of Three Kings informs you of the key players and tells you more about the integral role that the White House played in this world changing period in European history. The colourful story of the White House is retold through the ‘Relive the History’ exhibition. This centres on the Inglenook fireplace, here you can see the original bread ovens and learn more about the building, its owners and their rich and colourful past from 1569 to today. Opening times: Monday - Saturday 14.00 to 17.00 Admission price: adult £2.50, concession £1.50