A New Belfast – A New Beginning

“Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible”

The quotation above is by Charles Haughey, written in 1998. Now, I know the quotation says “Ireland”, but let’s put geography and politics aside and forget about that for now. “…where tales begin and happy endings are possible”. There is something enchanting about that sentence. And in many aspects, it’s very true. The continent of Ireland is a place of rich culture, meaning, history and sentiment. The deep agricultural roots still engulf the island to this day, but as the dawn of a modern era approaches, Ireland has developed into a powerhouse of modern society in Europe, and indeed the world. It could be argued that economically, Ireland is slipping backwards, but in a non-sceptic sense, it remains as strong as ever. This has happened, due in no small part to the emergence of Northern Ireland, and Belfast in particular, from the political meltdown which threatened its very existence.

From this…

…to this

In just over 30 years, Belfast has completely transformed. From the desolate, dangerous and fragile city it was to the bustling and vibrant metropolis it now is, Belfast is now regarded as one of the most promising and exciting cities in Europe to visit, and is one of the most productive cities in the UK.

So, how did this happen? Why, in the past 10 years, has Belfast been brought to our attentions in a way it never has before? I could explain for hours about Belfast’s transformation, but I’ll pick out the most significant events in which have made, and are continuing to make Belfast a major city in the world.

2011 has been an unforgettable year in Belfast’s history. Many will look back at 2011 as a year which firmly cemented Belfast, and indeed Northern Ireland, on the global map. Niall Ó Donnghaile, aged 25, became the youngest ever Lord Mayor of Belfast, and, despite a few notable hiccups, his time in office has proved successful. Belfast’s has endured one of the most successful years in its recent history (politics aside). Major events have catapulted Belfast into the wider public eye, and under the immense pressure, it has provided. Most notably, the 2011 MTV EMA Awards proved to be a phenomenal success to Belfast.

Sunday 6th November saw Belfast turn into the entertainment capital of the world, as it took the stage on the world platform as hosts of the 2011 MTV European Music Awards at the Odyssey Arena. The awards were watched by a record 306,000 people in the UK, and an estimated 500 million people across the globe. Hoards of celebrities flocked upon Belfast, many arriving early to see what Belfast had to offer. Belfast descended into madness that week, with the public eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite celeb. The event, accompanied by the hugely popular Belfast Music Week which happened in the weeks prior to the event, provided a massive opportunity for Belfast to showcase itself to the rest of the world, and it delivered big time. The event alone generated close to £10million pounds into the local economy. It was 10 years in the planning, and was a major coup for Belfast and its public image and stature was massively boosted.  


It was not only the MTV awards which made Belfast a hit in 2011. The British Transplant Games were hosted in August; the return of the ever-popular Maritime Festival, the European Pipe Band Competition and many more events gave Belfast the chance to shine in 2011. Economically, during the doom and gloom of the recession, Belfast had, at times, little to complain about as these events generated much needed money into the local economy. The opening of major stores such as Jack Wills and Decathlon, and the ever increasing popularity of Victoria Square helped Belfast to hold back the worst of the economic downturn and push through. Now, I’m no economist, so for me to say that Belfast has survived the worst of the economic storm is based on only my opinion, so please don’t take my word.

Belfast was the place to be in 2011. With each passing event, Belfast was ever increasing in people’s expectations. It had been given these great opportunities to really sell the city and country, and it grasped them with both hands. Most importantly, it gave the people of Belfast, and of Northern Ireland, comfort and hope in the fact that their country was finally moving on. Brain May, the iconic guitarist of Queen, I believe, summed up what Belfast has achieved in the past 20 years, in his acceptance speech at the MTV awards in Belfast, He said,

“how wonderful that we’re here in Belfast, which is finally showing its beauty and setting an example to the world by finding out of grief and tragedy the beginnings and the growth of true peace. God bless you, Belfast.”

If 2011 was important however, 2012 will be the single most important year for Belfast this century. I could explain why in a long winded essay-type post, but ill let this website do the talking –

http://www.nitb.com/ni2012/default.aspx : This website gives exactly what it is that is going to make Northern Ireland and Belfast an even bigger success in 2012. If your not excited, you should be.

14th April 1912 – the day RMS Titanic hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and sunk, killing near 1500 people. Forever in its history will Belfast be remembered not only for this amazing piece of maritime technology but for the part it played in crafting a piece of modern history into our school textbooks for years to come. 2012 will create a long and overdue reminder to the people of Belfast just how important its docks and labourers were in creating this history.





The Titanic Signature Building

Above is an artist’s impression of the Titanic Signature Building , the single most important piece of what will become a pivotal part of Belfast’s landscape, culture and heritage. This museum will become a constant reminder to the amazing work that the people of Belfast put in to creating the Titanic, and will remain a iconic image of Belfast’s backdrop for generations to come. The museum has been visible now for many months, and its eye-catching architecture stands out like a star in the sky. Belfast is gearing up for what will be an emotional return for RMS Titanic to its rightful home. In 2012.

People are very quick to cling on to the historical view that Belfast and Northern Ireland is a violent place. Even those who do not fully understand Northern Ireland’s historic past seem content to agree with the outdated stereotypes that Belfast is a dangerous place and that Catholics and Protestants despise each other. Ok, to some degree, that still might be true, but on such a small case that it doesn’t bear to even think about. Belfast didn’t magically recover from the Troubles. It still to this day is licking the wounds of those terrible events that caused the country so much pain and suffering. But it has moved on. Politically, economically and socially, it has moved on leaps and bounds, and it is very clear to see.

Belfast’s journey to get to where it is now has been long and hard, but now it has reached it, we all hope that it stays that way for centuries to come. A new Belfast – A new beginning.

C.

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