WORK has started on the demolition of the iconic Dockers Club in the Sailortown area of Belfast, marking the end of an era.
The Belfast Dockers Club was founded in 1977 by Brian McCann to provide local dockworkers and their families with a place to socialise, connect, and build community.
Over the years, it also became a much-loved venue for boxing events, creating countless memories for those who attended.
For decades, the club has been a cornerstone of the Sailortown area — a focal point for celebrations, commemorations, and community gatherings, and a source of pride for so many people.
The club closed its doors permanently in January this year, with its owners citing soaring rates bills and a lack of footfall in the area for the closure.
While its future had been uncertain in the months afterwards, work to demolish the building got underway on Monday.
The club was founded in 1977 after treasurer Brian McCann purchased what was then the Inside Inn before becoming the Docker’s Club.
Speaking to the Andersonstown News, Brian said: "It was opportunity knocks in many ways how the club started.
"The dockers were in so many different clubs and I wanted to form a Dockers Club. I bought the Inside Inn on St Patrick's Day in 1977.
"I started to get workers to come in. I was raising money straight away.
"We also got some help from the Irish Transport and General Workers Union to get started.
"I remember the first night. I had a lovely white suit on. From then, everything boomed. I think the club was so successful over the years because it was cross-community.
"There was no politics attached to the club. On many occasions we had people from the UDA, UVF and Provisional IRA all drinking in the club together.
"It really is the end of an era. I have a lot of good memories and I am very proud of what the Dockers Club was."
North Belfast MP John Finucane said: "Sad to see demolition work beginning on the iconic Belfast Dockers Club.
"A real end of an era for Sailortown and for the generations of local people who have so many fond memories of the place. There’s no doubt the Dockers Club will always hold a special place in the history of North Belfast."
A community event was held on Monday to say a fond farewell to the much-loved venue. The event, hosted by St Joseph's Church in Sailortown, brought dockers, friends and family together.
"It was a bittersweet afternoon, but a powerful reminder that while buildings may disappear, the people, memories and spirit of Sailortown remain. But this isn't just about remembering the past. It's about protecting the future of the community," a spokesperson for St Joseph's Church said.
"Sailortown has already lost so much of its built heritage and the places that once brought people together. The Dockers Club is another reminder of why we must continue to fight for community spaces, protect the shared history and ensure that the voices of local people are heard in shaping the future of the area."
