Clifton Street Graveyard
Clifton Street Graveyard
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Fully guided tours can be found on Eventbrite through www.ulsterwalkingtours.com starting in March 2024.
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Neighbourhood: City Centre
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5.0
20 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
4
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0
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0
Terrible
0
Peter E
Belfast, UK8 contributions
July 2020
I have lived and worked in Belfast most of my sixty six years and am ashamed to say I did not even know this graveyard existed never mind the fact that it is now the resting place of the most famous of the United Irish men, Henry Joy McCracken. It’s a hidden gem for anyone but especially those who have an interest in the history of Belfast / Ireland and there is much to learn . If you are lucky enough to have Noel McKnight as your guide then that is an extra bonus. Enjoy
Written 6 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lmorgan2015
Yorkshire, UK1,514 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
Arrived to find it locked up. After asking around found a custodian who was kind enough to let us in and show us round. A lot of the graves were badly damaged in the past and it was generally neglected but the people who live close cherish it and at do their best to hold back any further destruction. (which is why it is kept locked). Extensive details are online as fortunately there are past records of gravestones and inscriptions. Tours are available - best probably to book one to be sure of gaining entry.
Written 15 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MoorsoP
Belfast, UK84 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
The site entrance is located off Henry Place (itself off Clifton Street). The gates are usually locked, so you will either need to ask Belfast City Council for entrance beforehand or be part of a guided walking or other tour.
The cemetery is an exceptionally tranquil spot, located just outside the historic city centre (which is a bit further north than the current city centre). The tranquility is juxtaposed with the busy roads all around it, but as the graveyard is walled and contains quite a few trees you are instantly exported to somewhere quieter.
The graveyard was founded in the 18th century and towards the western end (marked by a blue plaque) is the reported burial place of United Irishmen leader Henry Joy McCracken, executed around Cornmarket on 17th July 1798, aged 30 (this burial is believed to have been reinterred by Francis Joseph Biggar in 1909 from the burial ground of St. George's Church - towards the end of High Street).
There are a number of fine historic headstones and mausoleums as well as a obelisk type monument to the United Irishmen.
The cemetery is an exceptionally tranquil spot, located just outside the historic city centre (which is a bit further north than the current city centre). The tranquility is juxtaposed with the busy roads all around it, but as the graveyard is walled and contains quite a few trees you are instantly exported to somewhere quieter.
The graveyard was founded in the 18th century and towards the western end (marked by a blue plaque) is the reported burial place of United Irishmen leader Henry Joy McCracken, executed around Cornmarket on 17th July 1798, aged 30 (this burial is believed to have been reinterred by Francis Joseph Biggar in 1909 from the burial ground of St. George's Church - towards the end of High Street).
There are a number of fine historic headstones and mausoleums as well as a obelisk type monument to the United Irishmen.
Written 10 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
edelweiss64-12
United Kingdom187 contributions
Oct 2012
a walking tour of this graveyard is a must. Here lies some of Belfast most distinguised along side, rich merchants, paupers,republican rebels, unionist politicians, famous inventors even an escaped slave. Every stone has a story to tell. There is also a mass grave for cholera victims
Written 3 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1981Lillian81
Belfast, UK78 contributions
Sept 2020
a really enjoyable hour of wandering through a really interesting old graveyard while our guide "brought to life" excuse the pun - the lives of so many interesting people who are buried here. The guide had such a depth of knowledge of dates - events and put these into context as he moved between the various graves - his stories were so interesting, without being in any way disrepectful of the surroundings. He was able to touch on so many important parts of the history of Belfast and Ireland in such a way as to want you to find out more - a very skilled guide.
Written 28 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeriberiBelfast
Belfast, UK28 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
I've lived in Belfast over 20 years and have past Clifton Street Graveyard many many times with little or no insight into the incredible history which lies beyond the walls. Joe our guide was very insightful and knowledgeable and delivered the tour in a funny yet informative way, would highly recommend to both locals and tourists alike
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BelfastFoodTravelMan
Belfast, UK6,794 contributions
The BFM is at a media course at the wonderful Clifton House.
2 North Queen St
Belfast
BT15 1EQ
United Kingdom
http://www.cliftonbelfast.org.uk
028 9089 7534
It started life in 1752 by the Belfast Charitable Trust and is still running A the Belfast Charitable Trust. It opened in 1774, and was given the name of the Belfast Poor House.
There is lots of history so come down and look at our past.
The graveyard contains some historically important Belfast Gentry. The soil from the graveyard make up the banks of the driveway.
Also the graveyard holds one of the biggest cholera pits in Ireland!!!
2 North Queen St
Belfast
BT15 1EQ
United Kingdom
http://www.cliftonbelfast.org.uk
028 9089 7534
It started life in 1752 by the Belfast Charitable Trust and is still running A the Belfast Charitable Trust. It opened in 1774, and was given the name of the Belfast Poor House.
There is lots of history so come down and look at our past.
The graveyard contains some historically important Belfast Gentry. The soil from the graveyard make up the banks of the driveway.
Also the graveyard holds one of the biggest cholera pits in Ireland!!!
Written 17 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Siobhan2010
Irish couple in Paris182 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed a few hours on a tour with Joe learning so much about our history in Clifton Street Cemetery and surrounding area. Although I drive past it several times per week I had no idea about the history of the cemetery. Joe is very entertaining adding lots of quips as he goes along. He is a font of knowledge and I reckon he could have talked for another few hours if he had the opportunity. Lots of Belfast banter!!
Well worth a visit. If it opens to the public next year as anticipated, we will return and have a wander around. However for a first visit do the tour to get all the interesting facts about the United Irishmen, the famine, cholera outbreak, etc, etc, There is so much in this graveyard. A must to take in the history of Belfast and indeed Ireland as a whole.
Well worth a visit. If it opens to the public next year as anticipated, we will return and have a wander around. However for a first visit do the tour to get all the interesting facts about the United Irishmen, the famine, cholera outbreak, etc, etc, There is so much in this graveyard. A must to take in the history of Belfast and indeed Ireland as a whole.
Written 17 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
magliocco
Belfast138 contributions
May 2012 • Solo
Clifton Street is a really worth while place to visit. It is full of the people who made Belfast what it is today. Sadly it's is closed to the public but you can do a tour with Glenravel Local History Project, who can be contacted on Facebook.. I suggest you go on the tour. You can contact them on Facebook for more information on this and the other walks and tours they provide.
Written 6 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daytripper24182
Belfast, UK658 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
Sadly, I was well in adulthood before I visited this graveyard for the first time. Usually under lock and key, I was here, most recently, for a tour conducted by Glenravel Local History Project. Our guide Joe was hugely knowledgeable and clearly has a genuine love of local history.
Marcus Ward, The Dunville Family, William Drennan and Mary Ann McCracken are just a few of the graves contained within this cemetery. People often forget, or are simply unaware, that Belfast was a world famous leader before it became synonymous The Conflict.
Previously I was here over the European Heritage Open Days, which is normally held over a weekend in September. However, there was no guide when we were there, and we spent a significant time looking for certain features as described in a guidebook. But, in fact, no longer existed as they'd long since been removed or irreparably damaged!
Marcus Ward, The Dunville Family, William Drennan and Mary Ann McCracken are just a few of the graves contained within this cemetery. People often forget, or are simply unaware, that Belfast was a world famous leader before it became synonymous The Conflict.
Previously I was here over the European Heritage Open Days, which is normally held over a weekend in September. However, there was no guide when we were there, and we spent a significant time looking for certain features as described in a guidebook. But, in fact, no longer existed as they'd long since been removed or irreparably damaged!
Written 12 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When is the next open tour of Clifton cemetry
Someone said the 24th of June
Written 7 June 2017
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