Belfast quarters refers to a number of distinctive cultural zones within the city of Belfast, whose identity has been developed as a spur to tourism and urban regeneration. These quarters differ from the traditional Districts into which Belfast is divided.
- The Cathedral Quarter
- The Gaeltacht Quarter
- The Smithfield Market and Library Quarter
- Linen Quarter
- Market Quarter
- Queen's Quarter
- The Titanic Quarter
The term "quarter" does not refer to one fourth of the city, nor is every area in the centre of Belfast part of a quarter. Instead, each quarter reflects something about a neighbourhood's history and locale, with the "Quarter" label being something that has come into general use in recent years.[1]
- The Cathedral Quarter takes its name from St. Anne’s Cathedral and has taken on the mantle of the city's key cultural locality.[2] It boasts a yearly visual and performing arts festival. Custom House Square is one of the city's main outdoor venues for free concerts and street entertainment. The Cathedral Quarter, centred on St Anne's Cathedral and the historic heart of Belfast, is the longest-established and most mature of the quarters.
- The Titanic Quarter covers 75 hectares of reclaimed land adjacent to Belfast harbour, formerly known as Queen's Island. Named after the RMS Titanic, which was built there in 1912,[3] work has begun which aims to transform the former shipyard into "one of the largest waterfront developments in Europe".[4] Plans also include new apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed museum.[4]
- The Queens Quarter in South Belfast is named after Queen's University. The area has a large student population and hosts the annual Belfast Festival at Queen’s each autumn. It is also home to Botanic Gardens and the Ulster Museum, closed for major redevelopment until 2009.[5] The Golden Mile is the name given to the mile between Belfast City Hall and Queen's University. Taking in Gt. Victoria St, Shaftesbury Square and Bradbury Place, it contains some of the best bars and restaurants in the city.[6] Since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the nearby Lisburn Road has developed into the city's most exclusive shopping strip.[7][8]
- The Gaeltacht Quarter is an area around the Falls Road in West Belfast which promotes and encourages the use of the Irish language.[9]
See also
References
- ^ It was first said at the Ireland-US Council and Ireland Fund's Winter Week Conference in Palm Beach, USA in February 2006 that Belfast was once a city of two halves, but is now a city of seven quarters.
- ^ "Exploring Belfast's cultural life". Belfast City Council. 2007. http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/culture/culturallife.asp?menuitem=culturallife. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Introduction To Titanic - Titanic In History". Titanic. Built in Belfast. Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/template.aspx?pid=342&area=1&parent=321. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ a b "Corporate Message: The Vision". About Us at Titanic Quarter. Titanic Quarter. 2006. http://www.titanic-quarter.com/about.php?ID=3. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ "Contact Details". The Ulster Museum. 2007. http://www.ulstermuseum.org.uk/contact-us/contact-details/. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ "Pub Crawl". Virtual Belfast. http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/The-Golden-Mile-articles.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Shopping At A Glance". Visit South Belfast. South Belfast Partnership. http://www.visitsouthbelfast.com/tourism/default.asp?cms=Tourism%5FThings+To+Do%5FShopping_Shopping+At+A+Glance&cmsid=19_49_81_227&id=227&viewtype=Category. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ Burns, Gemma (2007-02-28). "A passion for preserving Belfast’s beauty". South Belfast News. http://www.dailyireland.com/home.tvt?_scope=DailyIreland/South%20Belfast%20News/Features&id=26382&psv=13&_ticket=9NTHLXD4YGSGX4SGPNNADY7BZKLAFUUGUYRIJQOJBVXF9LLDN32STRRIVON9ANVRBNKACJ5J9QRFK11M9NTGNXT9CHUT71QFIRY4S0SEAOYFBHSJ5LE1HONDNMTEGPKACN1FURUQS10YM75OV6. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
- ^ "Gaeltacht Quarter". Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. 2007. http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/index/languages/gaeltacht_quarter.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
External links
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