A SERIES of special tours of the City Cemetery and Milltown Cemetery will take place later this month to mark European Heritage Weekend.

European Heritage Weekend takes place from Friday, September 11 to Sunday, September 13.

The tours have been organised by Stair Faoin Spéir, involving Seán Fennell, local Gaelscoil teacher and part-time historian, Briain Mac an tSionnaigh from Ionad Uibh Eachach, and partnering at times with Anam Caife na Carraige.

Briain Mac an tSionnaigh from Stair Faoin Spéir said that European Heritage Weekend Graveyard Tours will give people a chance to enjoy the history and heritage in the city and also give people a chance to take a tour that they may have missed during busy Féile week.

“We have three tours, Friday to Sunday. On Friday evening, meet at Falls Road, Milltown Cemetery Gate at 6pm. This tour will focus on Irish Republican Graves and Irish History especially in the turbulent Pogrom Years of the early 1920’s and Republican greats such as Winifred Carney, Seamus Rocky Burns and Brendan O’Callaghan will also feature.  

"We will continue the discussion after the tour in McEnaney’s over a few pints!” 

Following on from Friday’s Evening tour of Milltown, Seán Fennell and Stair Faoin Spéir will offer two tours in City Cemetery.

The first will be on Saturday, September 12, meeting at the main City Cemetery Gates at 11am for a two hour tour. Refreshments will be available in Caife Anam afterwards.

Seán said: "Saturday morning's tour on the historic City Cemetery will focus on the industrialists, shipbuilders, merchants and linen stories that shaped Belfast at the turn of last century as well as the fascinating story of Unionists who helped found Conradh na Gaeilge and the campaigners like Vere Foster and Margaret Byers. This tour is a must for anyone who has an interest in our wonderful city.”

Sunday’s tour will also be in City Cemetery, but the focus will be on the upper Glenalina Section of the Belfast City Cemetery. 

“Unfortunately, due to the vastness of the cemetery and time constraints, we have been leaving out a lot of stories from Glenalina," added Seán.

"This upper part of the City Cemetery was acquired by Belfast Corporation and the graveyard was extended due to lack of burial space. The sloped hills of the upper section include a mass grave from WW2 and also the graves of many Troubles victims.

"There is a mixture of stories here, which shows the diversity of Belfast’s history. For example, we have the Gael and painter Liam Andrews and also the playwright Sam Thompson and the IRA leader Brian Keenan.” 

All tours cost £10 per person and last around two hours, come prepared and ready to learn! All tours will be in English, with some Irish.

Stair Faoin Spéir European Heritage Tours:

  • Friday, September 11 - Milltown Cemetery Evening Tour 6-8pm -  £10 (meet at main gates Milltown) followed by refreshments in McEnaney's.
  • Saturday, September 12 - City Cemetery Tour 11am-1pm £10 (meet at main gates Falls Road) followed by refreshments in Anam Caife na Carraige.
  • Sunday, September 13 - Glenalina City Cemetery Tour 10am- 12pm - £10 (meet at Whiterock Close, Glór na Móna/ Anam Caife) followed by Refreshments in Anam Caife.