Children's Summer Scheme

BCDA

This summer I did some voluntary work with Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, assisting with the children's Summer Programme for children aged between 4 and 14 years. This kind of work goes on in July and August every year.

Activities

There were a lot of different activities, arts and crafts (made masks and kites), sports activities for local children (went treasure hunting among other things)...

Cinema

We went to the cinema (watched Garfield 2, Over the Hedge and The Stormbreaker)

Indiana Land

visited Indiana Land, an indoor adventure playground involving fun (ropes, slides...)

Carnfunnock Country Park

went to Carnfunnock Country Park, an outdoor country park with lots of grass and open space for the children to play games on; there's also a play park and mini-train ride that the children use.

Co-Co's

Finally, we had 2 Big Days Out to Newcastle and on the way there spent hours in Co-Co's adventure playground (slides, bridges...).

All in all-we (the children, local and international volunteers) had a lot of fun! I really hope to be part of this again some day.

The Ballynafeigh Song

Amy, Arnold, Aulten, Ben, Bronagh, Cameron, Carter, Chloe, Dillon, Dylan, Ed, Emma, Emily, Eva, Finley, Gena, Glen, Imogen, James, Jamie, Joe, John, Jordan, Josh, Julius, Karl, Kathryn, Laura, Lisa, Mark, Matthew, Neve, Olivia, Owen, Rachel, Rory, Ryan, Thomas, Tiarnan and all the other wonderful Ballynafeigh children, this is your song:

Everywhere we go

People always ask us

Who we are

And where do we come from

And we tell them

We are from Ballynafeigh

Mighty, mighty Ballynafeigh

And if they don't hear us

We shout a little louder!

Everywhere we go...

City Hall

The Dome

The principle dome rises to a height of approx. 53m terminating in a stone lantern.

The Whispering Gallery similar to that in St Paul's Cathedral in London, encircles the interior of the Dome. It gets its name from a charming quirk in its construction, which makes a whisper against its walls audible on the opposite side.

The Grand Staircase

This magnificent staircase's made from Carrara, Pavonazzo and Brescia marbles.

The large stained glass windows around it record important municipal events, from the creating of the original Charter by King James I in 1613 to the redefining of Belfast as a County Borough in 1899.

Stained Glass Windows

Throughout the Hall are many colourful stained glass windows depicting the Belfast Coat of Arms, the longest serving Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Sir Crawford and Lady McCullough, world war memorials and other prominent historical events such as the Famine Window which commemorates the plight of all those citizens who died as a result of famine related diseases.






The Banqueting Hall

This hall features a vaulted dome. The walls panelled in carved oak and a series of stained glass windows showing the Royal Arms and those of Lord Donegall and Lord Shaftersbury.

A step away is the Reception Hall, the smallest of the three function rooms. Special cases in it display the city's charters and certificates awarded to the first Honorary Freemen of the City, Viscount and Viscountess Pirrie.

The Council Chamber

Belfast City Council sits hereon the first working day of each month, its 51 members privileged to conduct business in such a setting. Similar to the Houses of Commons, Westminster, the seating faces inward to a central gangway which leads to a dais at the top of the chamber.
City Hall - Belfast

Mayors

On the walls of the corridors, you can see the paintings of all Belfast mayors.

The Lord Mayor's Chain of Office dates from 1874 when it was presented to the then Mayor, James Alexander Henderson. At the heart of the medallion is the Coat of Arms and motto of Belfast. This is surrounded by symbols of the four provinces of Ireland. A red hand for Ulster, a round tower for Munster, a harp for Leinster and a wolfhound for Connaught. The medallion also features the Irish inscription 'Eirinn go Bra', meaning 'Ireland Forever'. Within the chain itself are coats of arms of Mayors and Lord Mayors from the period 1842 and 1928. Made of solid gold, it weighs nearly 7 kilos.

International Summer Programme

Fondest memory: This summer I did some voluntary work with Ballynafeigh Community Development Association, assisting with the children's Summer Programme for children aged between 4 and 14 years. This kind of work goes on in July and August every year.

There were a lot of different activities, arts and crafts, sports activities for local children. We had 2 Big Days Out to Newcastle, a Big Day in the park, we went to the cinema, ice rink... All in all-we (children, local and international volunteers) had a lot of fun! I really hope to be part of this again some day.

Explore the city on foot!

where to next?

Belfast is easy to explore on foot and there are Visitor Info Signs throughout the city with maps to guide you through the streets. They're located at key sites and can give you a detailed info on particular location or building.

The signs relate to 3 cultural quarters of the city and are colour coded: purple for Cathedral Quarter, blue for City Centre and red for Queen's Quarter.

Website: http://www.gotobelfast.com

Black taxis

at the city hall

There are taxi ranks at City Hall, the Crown Bar, airports and main stations. Drivers at Castle Junction pack London-style hackneys until full for a particular direction. An alternative is to phone a 'radio cab' such as Value Cabs (tel: 9080 9080) from Grosvenor Road or fonaCAB (028 90 333333) from the Queen's Quarter area.

Airliners

bmi

Useful links:

• www.flybe.com
• www.ba.com
• www.flybmi.com
• www.aerarann.com
• www.euromanx.com
• www.flybnwa.co.uk
• www.airberlin.com
• www.flyzoom.com
• www.bmibaby.com
• www.continental.com
• www.airtransat.com
• www.easyjet.com
• www.Jet2.com
• www.manx2.com
• www.ryanair.com
• www.ba.com

Fly!

city airport

Many daily flights link Belfast's two airports with the four London airports, with worldwide connections.

Regular scheduled flights also operate from many British regional airports, the Republic of Ireland, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Nice, Paris, Prague and Rome.

George Best Belfast City Airport (www.belfastcityairport.com) is 3 miles from the city centre. There's a direct City Airlink bus service from the Airport terminal to Belfast city centre every 20 minutes (8.15-22) Mon-Fri. It's advisable to check the timetable for services before 8.15 and at weekends.

Belfast International Airport (www.belfastairport.com) at Aldergrove is 20 minutes drive via the M2 Motorway. The Airbus service operates between the Airport and Belfast city centre every 10 minutes (7-18.45) Mon-Fri. Check the timetable for services before or after these times and at weekends.

The Parador Entertainment

the Irish

At the Parador, you can experience Irish traditional music (Tuesdays, starting around 9pm), or, if you're into it, swing (thursdays), sing karaoke (Fridays)...

Address: Upper Ormeau Road

Directions: South East Belfast

Phone: 028 9049 1883

Theme: Live Music

Feel Yourself At Home!

The Parador is 15mins walk from the city centre and offers

• great service
• excellent meals
• single or double-bed rooms

Unique Qualities: The Parador pub offers something for everyone:

• Tue, from 9pm-live traditional music
• Wed, from 9pm-Quiz & Games Night
• Thu, from 9pm-Burbon Swing Night
• Fri, from 9pm-Karaoke Night

Address: 473-475 Ormeau Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland B

Other Contact: info@theparador.com

Phone: 028 9049 1883

Kate's B & B

Kate's

Address: 127 University Street

Other Contact: katesbb127@hotmail.com

Phone: 028 9028 2091

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Shopping Hours

Tesco

City-centre shops are generally open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm (Thurs until 9pm). Some larger stores open Sun 1-5pm.

Neighbourhood stores and garage forecourt convenience shops often open much longer-24hrs in many cases.

Banking hours are 9.30am-4.30pm.

Currency is the British pound sterling, but the province's banks (Bank of Ireland, First Trust, Northern and Ulster Banks) issue their own notes.

The Wicker Man: Souvenirs

W

hat to buy: In this rather small shop, you can find wonderful things like picture-frames, oil-paintings, calenders, clocks, mugs, postcards, perfumes, carvings, etc.

What to pay: Depends on how much you're willing to spend

Address: 12 Donegall Arcade, Castle Place

Theme: Local Craft

Website: http://www.thewickerman.co.uk

Clinton: Cards

This cute shop's literally packed with all kinds of cards: birthday, anniversary, get well, with children, animals, teddybears...

The problem appears when you really have to decide which card to buy.

What to buy: cards of course, and postcards

What to pay: postcards-30p each
cards-depends

Address: 28 Donegall Place

Directions: near Tesco's, but the opposite side of the street, you can't miss it

Phone: 028 9027 8963

Website: http://www.clintoncards.com

Cooke Hall

On the corner of Park Road, facing Ormeau Park and the Ballynafeigh Bakery, stands this beautiful church with lovely stained glass windows and timber ceiling. It's interesting that it occupies a site with no postal number.

The construction of Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church (its official name) started in 1890. It took 2 years to complete.

Among other things, this is a venue for in house activities of the Children's Summer Programme (organised by BCDA) in July and August every year.

Ballynafeigh Orange Hall

Ballynafeigh Orange Hall can be easily recognized by many flags flying from its poles. The building was built in 1887 and houses books from the 1880s. According to these books, in those days farmers, gamekeepers and estate workers lived in this area.

Ballynafeigh

a row of houses

Ballynafeigh (Irish: Baile na Faiche=townland of the raven) is the south Belfast suburb, located on the mid Ormeau Road, beyond the bridge of the River Lagan.

It's one of few mixed neighbourhoods in Belfast where Protestants and Catholics have continued to live alongside one another throughout all the years of the Troubles. It's in fact one of the last remaining mixed communities in Belfast comprising of people from different social, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Ballynafeigh is also home to many great bars, restaurants, cafes and corner shops.

Website: http://www.orangenet.org

Methodist Church

Being a mixed community, it's no wonder that Ballynafeigh is surrounded by different churches. One of them is the Methodist Church.


Methodists were among the early residents of Ballynafeigh. They erected this unusual church in 1898.

St George's Church

Right across Albert Clock is this elegant church.

The site of St George's Church marks the very beginning of Belfast. It's the place where settlement began and which gave the city its name. There are records of a chapel at Beal Feirste (Irish for the sandy ford at the mouth of the Farset) going back almost 1000 years.


The present church was designed by John Bowden of Dublin and completed in 1816.

St Jude's Church

This is yet another church in the Ballynefeigh area. It's situated on Ormeau Road, just across the street from the Paradour Hotel and Methodist church.

It was built between 1871 and 1873. But, owing to the growth of population in this area, the church had to be enlarged twice.

Website: http://www.orangenet.org

Clifton Street Orange Hall

When you go up Clifton Street, you won't help noticing a tall bronze statue of King Billy, sabre drawn on the roof of Orange Hall.

The statue's 3m tall and weighs 3t. It was made by Harry Hems.