From County Down to Portrush, The
Royal Golf Giant's Causewa
 BELFAST is a large port on
an ideal shelter in the long arm of the Belfast Lough and
is protected by hills on both side.
It has a long history, which goes back to 1177 when John
de Courcy invaded it. It became the property of the O'Neil clan (1315-1603) before Sir
Arthur Chichester until 1840. A city tour begins at City House on Donegall Square
dominated by the Queen Victoria's statue.
From there go to the Albert Clock which tower has an
inclination of 5° following an earth subsidence. Come back up Skanhill Road to have a
look at the house façades painted by the diverse political parties (remark the red hand
which is the symbol of the county) before going to the Belfast Castle. Have a look on the
seven cat's mosaic and statues and enjoy the fair view over the city, the port and the
Lough.
The development of Belfast has been linked to the port,
which is the most important shipbuilding in the United Kingdom and the Harland and Wolff
shipyard is the place where the famous transatlantic Titanic was built. It also benefited
from the French Huguenot immigration who brought in the linen industry methods in the
17th. For the curiosity, have a look at the Victorian decoration of the Crown Liquor
Saloon and go and drink a pint of Guinness or a glass of Bushmills in one of the most
popular pubs for local youth at "Bot" (The Botanical) or at "Eg" (The
Eglantine) or at Lavery's.
Out of Belfast, scenic roads called Ulster Ways allow to
discover this beautiful natural country and his famous cliffs. Going along the Lough to
Bangor and to the Ballycopeland Windmill, the road is driving along the Lacale Peninsula
to Portaferry.
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The ferry
drops you at Ardglass on the way to Newcastle at the feet of the Mourne Mountains, which
have inspired poets and painters. On the way back
to Belfast, have a stop at Armagh and a look at the famous Saint Patrick cathedral.
On the other side of the Belfast Lough, the road stays
close to the North Channel border. By clear weather - which is not so rare as gossips are
used to say - the Scottish coasts of Kintyre and islands of Islay are visible to the naked
eye particularly from Murlough Bay. From there with the Carrick-a-ride Bridge begins the
Causeway Coast and the famous Giant's. Bushmill distillery, Dunluce Castle, Portsteward
deserve also a visit on the way to Portrush.
FINN Mc COOL
The powerful giant Finn Mc Cool was chief of the Irish
Royal Army. In love with a beautiful giant girl who lived in the Hebrides, he built a road
to join his beloved lady. The road is the famous Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's
natural symbolic monument. Finn Mc Cool gave his name to a annual golf trophy organised by
the Northern Irish Tourist Board.
HALLOWEEN
The night between the 31st of October and the 1st
November is dedicated to the celebration of Halloween essentially by children not only in
the British Islands or in the States but also in many other countries around the world. In
fact Halloween is a very old Celtic celebration marking the Irish New Year. It was called
"Samhain" meaning peace fire. It became later on Halloween meaning
"Hallow's Eve " or " all saints" celebrated by the Christian
tradition. Nowadays it is a children's holiday. But in Ireland, when the carved and
painted pumpkins dance and the large outside peace fires illuminate the isle of emerald's
night, old Irish people, heir of Celtic bards tell weird and magic stories of old time.
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Belfast from the castle
Albert Clock
Finn Mc Cool 2000 Trophy
Giant's causeway
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