The Heritage Celebrations Continue on the Maritime Mile with the Launch of Where Belfast Begins Outdoor Exhibition

2022 is a year of celebrations on the Maritime Mile and September is no exception as Maritime Belfast Trust, the charity responsible for promoting and preserving Belfast’s maritime heritage, has launched Where Belfast Begins, Maritime Belfast Story outdoor exhibition.  The exhibition celebrates the thousands of ships built here in Belfast, the many tradesmen and women, the Yardmen, the Dockers, and the innovation associated with 400 years of industry.

Informed by in-depth research and engagement with neighbourhood communities, the exhibition covers many stories – about how the river was tamed, and the land reclaimed; how trade and innovation made Belfast an industrial powerhouse to the world; stories from the city’s neighbourhoods, of their livelihoods and trades, of the shops that sold everything from a needle to an anchor.

The Maritime Belfast Story Exhibition is a free outdoor experience on Queens Quay. Further along the Maritime Mile, there is more to celebrate as this weekend, as European Heritage Open Days on the 10^th and 11^th of September also marks the 5^th birthday of Titanic Hotel Belfast – once the former H&W Headquarters and Drawing Offices.

Kerrie Sweeney, CEO, Maritime Belfast Trust said,

“With support from Belfast City Council, Maritime Belfast is offering a jam-packed free programme of events over European Heritage Open Days this weekend which also marks the 5^th birthday of Titanic Hotel Belfast.   Titanic Hotel Belfast is located in one of Belfast’s most significant maritime heritage buildings and we are inviting local people to join us for the celebrations and discover more about our rich Maritime Belfast Story by exploring our heritage attractions and new outdoor exhibition on the Maritime Mile. “ 

There are many ways to join in and celebrate the heritage on the Maritime Mile this weekend:

• Call into Titanic Hotel Belfast for a hot drink and complimentary slice of birthday cake on Saturday morning
• Explore the historic Drawing Offices and heritage rooms, including Lord Pirrie’s and Thomas Andrews office and discover the unique heritage of this iconic building, including the art, artefacts and décor influenced by the details in the original building.
• See Lord Pirrie’s Book on Display in Drawing Office One. Owned by Harland & Wolff, the book was gifted to Lord Pirrie by the employees of Harland and Wolff to mark the moment he became the 1^st Viscount Pirrie in 1921. This is the second time this book will be on public display in the last decade and is considered a priceless artefact of great historical significance.
• Enjoy the Belfast Titanic Society activities taking place over the weekend in Titanic Hotel Belfast. Admire the display of Titanic era male and female costumes, hats, and jewellery, and enjoy a talk by Rory Golden, the first Irish diver to visit the site of RMS Titanic or test your Titanic knowledge with a free interactive quiz.
• Visit the free Maritime Belfast Story outdoor exhibition, which is available now through to mid-November
• Also opening their doors for European Heritage Open Days are St Joseph’s Church, Sailortown, Belfast Harbour Commissioners Offices and Sinclair Seaman’s Church.

To mark the heritage weekend, SoundYard and the Great Light will all be lighting up blue over the weekend, so there’s always something to see on the Maritime Mile.

Visit www.maritime-mile.com for more information on each event and activity.

Plus, don’t forget to join the conversation on Maritime Mile Facebook and Instagram using
#CelebrateMaritimeMile