Belfast Tour
Photographed by David Kelly and Erin Price

   Point Park University's Irish Media class traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 14. Highlights on the bus tour included murals, the Belfast castle, and the Belfast shipyard.

Photos by Erin Price                                                                                     Photos by David Kelly
 
For descriptions, open the slideshow in fullscreen and click "show info," or view the left set (Erin Price) and view the right set (David Kelly).

Photos by Erin Price
Photo 1: The trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 14, 2010 began on a train at Connolly Station in Dublin.

Photo 2: Instead of taking a Black Taxi Tour and splitting up the group, a coach bus toured the students and professors around Belfast.

Photo 3: Tour guide Michael explained the history and culture of Belfast.

Photo 4: Belfast is lively with shops and restaurants, although through the alleyways are various murals about the conflicts.

Photo 5: The Leaning Clock of Belfast is slightly tilting to the right and serves as an attraction.

Photo 6: Freedom Corner has a wall of murals about the continuing conflicts between Protestants and Catholics.

Photos 7 and 8: Murals around Belfast show the conflicts in Northern Ireland.

Photos 9 and 10: The Northern Ireland Assembly is in the Stormont Parliament Buildings.

Photo 11: A church sits next to the Belfast Castle.

Photos 12 - 19: The Belfast Castle was built in the 12th century. However, it burnt down and was rebuilt in 1862. Today, it remains as a tourist attraction with a shop, restaurant, visitor's center, and cat garden. In this garden, there are nine cats as a mark of good fortune.

"It is said that good fortune will come to those visiting Belfast Castle as long as the tradition of the castle cat is kept. The story goes that there has always been a resident white cat at the castle, and the gardens below celebrate this tale with nine references made to the cat in paving, sculpture, and garden furniture. The garden refurbishment project 1992-93 was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund."

Photos 20, 24, 25: The Belfast Shipyard was where the Titanic was built in 1912.

Photos 21 - 23: Keel blocks were aligned to support a ship like the Titanic. The Belfast Shipyard was where the Titanic was built in 1912.

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Photos by David Kelly
Photo 1: Welcome to Belfast

Photo 2: The Queen's photo sits in the windowsill for all to see.

Photo 3: The garden of Belfast Castle

Photo 4: Two locals pose for a photo

Photo 5: Belfast Castle

Photo 6: St. Patrick Church

Photo 7: Stone alleyway with little shops

Photo 8: The Stormont Building houses the parliament of Belfast. This is a building open to the public for tour. It is also still used daily for meetings and functions of the government.

Photo 9: The lock that once held the cruise ship Titanic while it was being constructed

Photo 10: Freedom Corner keeps history known with there murals that remind people of the conflicts that once went on through these every streets.

Photo 11: The mile long road that leads to the front door of the Stormont Parliament building.

Photo 12: Now with gates wide open, the peace wall now stands as a permanent monument.

Photo 13: Belfast's most expensive hotel sits in the middle of downtown. With rooms that run 400 pounds a night, you can be driven around in this Rolls Royce Phantom. Elton John was said to have had his wedding in this every hotel.

Photo 14: The murals on the Freedom Corner in Belfast are re-touched and maintained every year to keep from being weathered down.