Memory Lane Tours Belfast

The most recognisable tree in any Irish Cemetery,graveyard or burial ground is the Yew.The Yew is an ancient tree species that has survived since before the Ice Age.The Yew is associated with immortality,renewal,regeneration,everlast ing life, and rebirth.Tough and resilient,the entire tree is poisonous--wood,bark,needles and seed.It is one of the reasons why it is known as the death tree.Our ancestors revered the Yew above all other trees .It was considered to be the most potent tree for protection against evil and was held sacred by the Druids in pre-christian times and was regarded as especially magical to the Celts..Dara

This is the grave of Alan Campbell Carson in the Belfast City Cemetery.Alan was only eleven years old when he fell into a coma and died in 1905. Alan's headstone is among only a handful of memorials in the cemetery which are listed due to their special architectural and historic interest.Alan's headstone is designed in the Art Nouveau style . This form was popular betweenn 1890 and 1910. Art Nouveau was inspired by natural forms and structures,particularly the curved lines of plants and flowers, which can been seen on Alan's headstone...Dara

This is the Superintendents Gate House at the entrance of the Belfast City Cemetery. Opened in 1873,it was designed by John Lanyon of Lanyon,Lynne and Lanyon.They were a 19th century civil engineers and architects firm working mainly in Dublin and Belfast.John was the son of Charles Lanyon, an English man,who was head of the firm, and its most famous architect.Along with William Henry Lynn they designed other buildings in Belfast such as,Queen's University,Belfast Castle,Custom House and also the Crumlin Road Gaol and Courthouse.Charles Lanyon was also Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1862 and a Conservative MP for the city between 1865 and 1868...Dara

This is the grave of Samuel Cleland Davidson in The Belfast City Cemetery. Samuel was an Irish Inventor and engineer.His inventions mainly came about through persistent experimentation and personal hands-on experience. Through his career in the tea import business he invented and patented the earliest air conditioning systems. This innovation,originally designed for drying tea,evolved into the first air conditioning system.This powerful force of moving hot air across a room ...with one of his centrifugal fans led one of Davidsons colleagues to remark that it reminded him of the Sirocco, the hot air that blows across the North African desert,and Davidson adopted Sirocco as his brand name,applying it to his products and to the firm's Belfast factory,the Sirocco Engineering works. He supplied ventilation fans for the Titanic which was built practically next door to the Sirocco works at the Harland & Wolff shipyard. ..Dara
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This is the grave of Margaret Byers in The Belfast City Cemetery. Born in Rathfriland in 1832. Margaret was educated at a Ladies College in Nottingham,England. In 1852 she married the Rev John Byers of Tullyallen,Co Armagh.The pair set off to Shanghai in China to become missionaries. Within a year,John Byers fell ill and died on the return voyage to New York, leaving his 20 year old widow with a new baby,named John after the father.On her return to Ireland she was resolute i...n her determination to make her own way in the world and began teaching at a very traditional girls school in Cookstown. She was profoundly unhappy in Cookstown and in 1859 she left and established her own school called,the Ladies Collegiate school,initially in Wellington Place,Belfast. This would later become Victoria College. Victoria College rapidly acquired an enviable reputation for academic excellence.It was here girls were taught French,modern history,natural science, current affairs, Latin and Greek.Margaret campaigned for the rights of women to a university education. She was also a temperance reformer,business woman,philanthropist,suffragette and a devout Presbyterian. Margaret was also a member of a committee which helped raise funds to build the Royal Victoria Hospital. Her son John would go on to be one of the top physicians at the Belfast Maternity Hospital. ..Dara
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This is the grave of Peter McKay in the Belfast City Cemetery. Peter lived at 47 Dock Street, Belfast.The inscription on his headstone describes him as 'One of the Thin Red Line' This was a military action by the British Highlanders 93rd (Highland) Regiment at the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854,during the Crimean War.In this incident around 200 men of the 93rd, aided by a small force of 100 walking wounded,40 detached Guardsmen, and supported by a force of Turkish infantrymen ,routed a Russian cavalry charge.The event at the time was lionized in the British press and the phrase " The Thin Red Line" became a symbol of British composure in battle...Dara

This is the grave of Berkeley Deane Wise in The Belfast City Cemetery. Berkeley was the chief engineer to the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. He designed many of the train stations on this line such as Portrush and Ballymena. He was one of the pioneers who developed the North as a tourist destination. Berkeley also designed the beautiful walks,bridges and viewing points at Glenariff in the Glens of Antrim.He also created the Gobbins cliff path on the Islandmagee coastline, which in its day was as successful a tourist attraction as the Giants Causeway. ...Dara

The Shankill Graveyard is one of Belfast's oldest burial grounds. It has been used for burials for over 1,000 years and although burials no longer take place, it remains an important historical site. One of the oldest legible stones belongs to George McAuley who died in 1685. The earliest church on this site, dating back to around1306 is believed to have been the White Church of the Chapels of the Ford. Many paupers and victims of the plaque, as well as The Famine, are buried here.....Dara

Another Beautiful morning at The Belfast City Cemetery. Have a good day....Dara

This is the grave of Vere Foster in The Belfast City Cemetery. Vere abandoned a diplomatic career to devote his life to the ordinary people of Ireland. First campaigning to improve the terrible conditions on post - Famine emigrant ships,he later turned his attention to education as a way of overcoming poverty. He personally subsidised millions of Vere Foster copy books,intended to equip poor children for better paid jobs. .Dara

This is the grave of Gertrude Annie Taylor in The Belfast City Cemetery. Gertrude served as a nurse in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD).This was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for British military personnel during World War 1 and World War 2.The VAD nurses worked in military hospitals at home and abroad,in field hospitals,close to the battlefields.Over 2000 women from Ireland served as VADs during World War 1.Unfortunately contracting a serious illness as a nurse was a common theme amongst the VADs.Gertrude Annie Taylor died of pneumonia contracted on duty at The London General hospital in December 1916 while serving as a VAD at .She was only 35 years old...Dara

This is the grave of Sarah'Sadie'Rachel Orr Hale in The Belfast City Cemetery. Sadie was the typist aboard Lusitania on the ships final voyage. The Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915 roughly 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale..Sadie was killed when the vessel was sunk,she was 29 years old.Her remains were recovered from the sea and she was buried on the 12th May 1915 in The Belfast City Cemetery in section B 22.Nearly 1200 people lost their lives as a result of the sinking of The Lusitania...Dara

Council workers hard at work in The Belfast City Cemetery, planting begonias geraniums and dahlias.What a Beautiful day..Dara

This is the grave of William John Ashcroft in The Belfast City Cemetery. Now largely forgotten,the story of Willie John is worth recalling in the history of comedy in Belfast. An outstanding comedian,singer and dancer,he bought the Alhambra Theatre in Lower North Street,Belfast in 1879.He featured as 'Muldoon, the Solid Man' .Willie John often had a chaotic and scandalous private life,which seemed to to endear him to his Belfast audiences. Brawls and punch ups were a common occurrence on stage at The Alhambra...Dara

This is the grave of William and Margaret Pirrie in The Belfast City Cemetery.At the age of fifteen in1862 William joined Harland & Wolff as a gentleman apprentice.On 17th April 1879 William married Margaret.By 1904 William had assumed total control of Harland & Wolff.From his earliest days in shipbuilding, William had foreseen the era of the great ocean-going liner.Luckily,illness prevented William from sailing on Titanic's maiden voyage.Margaret personally raised £100,00 pounds to build the Royal Victoria Hospital. .Dara

It was a delight today to host The Belfast City Cemetery walking tour for everyone from Urban Villages.I hope nobody was hurt with my flying spongy brick!...Dara

This is the grave of the Harvey family in The Belfast City Cemetery.On the headstone there is an inscription remembering Herbert Gifford Harvey. He was a Junior Assistant 2nd Engineer on Titanic.On the night she sank, he was last seen trying to help fellow engineer,Jonathan Shepherd,in boiler room five,where both had been working on the pumps.His body was never recovered snd he was engaged to be married. ..Dara

On Tuesday I took Madeline,Tim,Sarah and Greg all the way from Sydney Australia on a tour of Belfast and the local cemeteries. Loved the company and The Aussie wit...See you all again very soon..Dara

This is the grave of Sam Thompson in The Belfast City Cemetery. A trade unionist and a playwright,he was encouraged to write about his experiences working in the shipyard and The Belfast Corporation.He is best remembered for writing the outstanding play 'Over the Bridge' which reflected the sectarian realities of the Belfast shipyard.The life of Sam Thompson is captured in the inscription in his headstone,it reads,'His was the voice of many men' ..Dara

what an amazing tour of belfast city cemetery this autumn morning. It was taken by Aidan Crean and Dara Barrett. It was great to hear the history of the cemetery and who is buried there from suffragettes to a boy who died on the titanic. I particularly liked getting into the Jewish quarter and seeing the remains of an old synagogue. Some of the tomb stones are fantastic and it was errie to see so many angels statues adorn the graves . The cemetery grounds are very beautiful and well worth exploring with lovely yew trees, views of the mountains and grey squirrels scurrying around. The tour was taken with typical Irish banter with never a dull moment. Aidan was a world of knowledge on bird life and started the tour by releasing two Goldcrests which he caught and tagged back into the wild. Dara was passionate about the history of the grave yard and belfast itself. There was nothing he didn't know and nothing he couldn't answer it was all so interesting.

The hour and a half flew in and it was all FREE.

Very interesting tour with funny and knowledgeable tour guides. Good day out if your looking for something a bit different.

The tour covered the history of Belfast in detail and included sights I had no idea even existed. Dara's knowledge and passion is extensive. I recommend Memory Lane Tours if you're looking for an up close and personal experience.

Thanks once again to Dara and Aiden for a really interesting morning. The walking tour definitely has been an insight into the past and also an eye opener to the wildlife all around us, would recommend it.

Interesting and entertaining insight into the people who have gone before us. The guides did an excellent job highlighting the links between the past and present conflicts and great wars. The final resting places of our fellow men whose legaceys live on was brought to life in an informative and illuminating manner. The history of the setting the bog gardens and the bird conservation all added to a very enjoyable experience. Would certainly recommend the cemetery tours.

I thought it was brill. Was great to learn untapped history (amongst other things) through really informative speakers. Would definitely recommend to anyone contemplating going to next week's tour. GMRA a Chairde :)

Highly recommend this tour. Dara and Dave are Excellent lots of history and information they really know their stuff Cannot recommend it enough.

Had an amazing day on Monday. Even if you don't think this is for you the boys make history come to life. Wonderful to see a group of young people there and asking so many questions. Loved it from start to finish could have stayed all day. Would love to go again and bring my sons

Had a great wee walk arond the City Cemetery with Dara. Very entertaining and informative. Fantastic.

Great tour. Very informative and interesting. Came away with lots of historical facts and stories.

Great tour loved the start with the info about the wild life of the cemetery. Our tour guides were both informative and great craic. Best 2 and half hours I have spent in a long time. Great interaction with the group including having some members tell some great stores about the war dead and the republican history of the three plots. Certainly recommend it

Fantastic tour from the lads. Lots of interaction from important conservation and environmental protection of the bog meadows to bird ringing and migration. The World War 1/2 gravestones and visual aids. Visiting the republican gravestones and hearing the stories of the past. I'm sure the guide's could talk all day about the hundreds of thousands of graves and those resting there. Top of the pops loved it. I look forward to doing it again another time.

Dara brought the dead to life from the Titanic disaster, the mills, high society, common people, and many more. As an engineer myself there was a connection to air conditioning! As a Protestant learning Gaelic (Irish or the Irish language), there was proof of a significant Irish speaker being deeply in the Orange Order. Thank you for the wonderful insights.