The Forbidden Zone
In Tarkovsky’s 1979 film Stalker, three men journey through the ‘Forbidden Zone’ – a damp, overgrown wasteland where the rules of nature no longer apply. Their goal is to reach a place within the ‘Zone’...
Category: Places
An unashamedly biased choice of places we like in Belfast and Northern Ireland.
C.S. Lewis: icon of East Belfast
East Belfast has a number of cultural heroes. George Best and Van Morrison are perhaps the biggest household names. And as with any area pushing a culture and tourism agenda, there’s no shortage of...
A Belfast Blog – can you name the places?
A Belfast Blog ‘mystery locations’ – send your answers… This week we have decided to share a preview of something A Belfast Blog is currently working on… In its essence, it involves maps and illustrations. Possibly said too...
A visit to Hillsborough Castle
I didn’t expect the Northern Irish residence of the British Royal Family and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to be a family-friendly attraction. But two adults (one pretty sceptical about my fascination...
Orange is the new black
Every week on my way to the supermarket I pass a brown sign pointing towards ‘Orange Heritage’. You can’t be in Belfast for long and not be aware of Orangemen – from mural depictions...
Symbolism and Symmetry at Stormont
Stormont is associated with scenes of massive political wrangling, with heavy bureaucracy, with feelings of immense frustration and confusion. I have made a few visits recently, and it’s disconcertingly peaceful and welcoming. The large...
Sinclair Seamen’s Church
The Rough Guide to Ireland‘s section on Belfast has an entry for a curious church in the docklands area, situated more or less on the quay opposite the Odyssey arena. The entry invites readers...
The Linenhall Library
The Linenhall Library was one of the first places I discovered in Belfast. However, I’ve been reluctant to write about it until now, for fear of not doing it justice, because it really is...
