Belfast Bohemian Productions

23/09/2025

COURSES COMING SOON!
Hey ClanFinders! Are you interested in learning Irish genealogy? New Genealogy Ireland online learning courses are coming soon!

We are currently creating the following online eLearning courses: 'Building Your Family Tree: A Beginners Guide' - 'Belfast Grave Finder' - The Beginners Guide to Vital Records'.
More info to follow ClanFinders!

Genealogy Ireland.
Produced by Belfast Bohemian Productions.

23/09/2025

LESSER KNOW BELFAST
Discover the Belfast you never learned about in school with Lesser Known Belfast – a fascinating booklet inspired by the 2015 local history documentary. Dive into the city’s hidden past with stories of secret societies, the leaning Albert Clock, the Blackman Statue, Cavehill legends, the Battle of the Boyne, the history of our national flags, and the dramatic “Big Wind” of 1839. Perfect for anyone who loves uncovering Belfast’s secrets!

Click the link below and enjoy ClanFinders!
(Read or download flipbook): https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbook.../lesser-known-belfast

Buy The DVD:
If you enjoyed reading the booklet, watch the film! DVD available here: https://www.belfastbohemian.com/shop

Produced by Belfast Bohemian Productions
Written by James Rea Jr.

LESSER KNOW BELFAST
Discover the Belfast you never learned about in school with Lesser Known Belfast – a fascinating booklet inspired by the 2015 local history documentary. Dive into the city’s hidden past with stories of secret societies, the leaning Albert Clock, the Blackman Statue, Cavehill legends, the Battle of the Boyne, the history of our national flags, and the dramatic “Big Wind” of 1839. Perfect for anyone who loves uncovering Belfast’s secrets!

Click the link below and enjoy ClanFinders!

(Read or download flipbook): https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/lesser-known-belfast

Buy The DVD:
If you enjoyed reading the booklet, watch the film! DVD available here: https://www.belfastbohemian.com/shop

23/09/2025

CEMETERIES OF BELFAST.
Belfast City Council PDF - This really useful and informative booklet is jam-packed with useful history and details about the the graveyards and cemeteries in Belfast.

Enjoy ClanFinders!

(Read or download flipbook): https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/belfast-cemeteries

'Genealogy Ireland' A new online genealogy course and product provider by Belfast Bohemian Productions. Launching Soon.

CEMETERIES OF BELFAST.
Belfast City Council PDF - Full of useful history and details about the various graveyards and cemeteries in Belfast.

Enjoy ClanFinders!

(Read or download flipbook): https://flipbooklets.com/pdfflipbooklets/belfast-cemeteries

28/06/2025

Belfast History Spotlight: THE ORIGINAL BELFAST CASTLE
For Fun, we used AI to recreate what Belfast Castle may have looked like!

The original Belfast Castle was built in the late 12th century by the Normans on what is now High Street, near the banks of the River Farset. Serving as a strategic fortification, it later became the residence of the Chichester family, who were instrumental in the early development of Belfast. Over the centuries, the structure was expanded and modified, reflecting the growing importance of the town.

However, in 1708, a devastating fire tore through the castle, destroying it completely. Rather than rebuild on the same site, the Chichester family eventually relocated to the slopes of Cave Hill, where the current Belfast Castle was constructed in the 19th century.

27/06/2025

Belfast History Spotlight: THE WHITE LINEN HALL
For Fun, we used AI to recreate what The White Linen Hall may have looked like!

Long before Belfast City Hall dominated Donegall Square, the heart of the city beat within the White Linen Hall — a grand and bustling symbol of Belfast’s 18th and 19th-century linen trade.

Built in 1788, this elegant neoclassical building once stood proudly where City Hall now stands. It was a hub for the world-famous Irish linen industry, with merchants and traders from across Europe gathering to buy the finest linen woven in Ulster.

Surrounded by a high stone wall with gated entrances, the White Linen Hall was not just a market — it was a centre of commerce and civic pride, reflecting Belfast's rise as a powerful industrial city.

By the 1890s, with the linen trade evolving and Belfast rapidly growing, the hall was demolished to make way for the iconic Belfast City Hall, completed in 1906.

Today, there’s no trace of the original structure — but its legacy lives on in the city’s rich textile heritage and in street names like Linenhall Street and Linenhall Library.

11/06/2025

Belfast History Spotlight: MARY ANN McCRACKEN
For Fun, we used AI to recreate what Mary Ann McCracken may have looked like in real life!

Mary Ann McCracken (1770–1866) was a remarkable social reformer, abolitionist, and champion of the poor in Belfast. A sister of United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken, she shared his passion for justice but dedicated her long life to peaceful activism. Mary Ann campaigned tirelessly for the rights of women, children, and workers, and played a leading role in Belfast’s anti-slavery movement. Her compassion, courage, and lifelong commitment to social change have made her one of the city's most inspiring historical figures.

11/06/2025

Belfast History Spotlight: WILLIAM DRENNAN
For Fun, we used AI to recreate what William Drennan may have looked like in real life!

William Drennan (1754–1820) was a physician, poet, and political reformer from Belfast, best known as one of the founding members of the Society of United Irishmen. A passionate advocate for civil rights, religious equality, and parliamentary reform, Drennan dreamed of a united, independent Ireland free from sectarian division. He is also credited with coining the phrase "Emerald Isle" to describe Ireland. His legacy lives on as a voice for peace, progress, and national unity.

11/06/2025

Belfast History Spotlight: FREDRICK RICHARD CHICHESTER
For Fun, we used AI to recreate what Fredrick Richard Chichester may have looked like in real life!

Frederick Richard Chichester, (1827–53), Earl of Belfast, was born 25 November 1827, second son of George Hamilton Chichester, 3rd marquess of Donegall.

In December 1852 he travelled on to Naples, where he caught scarlet fever after taking part in an amateur theatrical performance, and died, unmarried, two days later (11 February 1853). He is commemorated by a marble and a bronze statue, both by Patrick MacDowell, in Belfast city hall.

09/05/2025

Belfast History Spotlight: SIR ARTHUR CHICHESTER
For Fun, we used AI to recreate what Sir Arthur may have looked like in real life!

Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester (1563–1625), was an English soldier and statesman who played a key role in the colonization of Ulster. As Lord Deputy of Ireland, he helped shape British rule and had a lasting impact on Belfast.

Chichester oversaw the development of the town of Belfast, granted it a royal charter in 1613, and laid the foundations for its transformation into a major city. Today, he’s remembered as a controversial figure—seen by some as a builder, by others as a coloniser.