Belfast Dark History Tour

Tour Details

Ready to dive into Belfast's darker side of history? If so, at the indicated time, we'll meet on Castle Street to kick off our journey through some of the city's most troubling and fascinating stories.

We'll start at Primark, which stands on the site of the old Bank Buildings, where Belfast's last public execution took place in 1816. Next, we'll walk through Smithfield and Shankill, where we'll hear the chilling story of the Shankill Butchers. Then, we'll continue our tour at the First Presbyterian Church, where we'll learn about Irish funeral traditions.

From there, we'll head to Whites Tavern, one of Belfast's oldest pubs, which stood amid the chaos of 19th-century cholera outbreaks. We'll continue to Donegall Street, the site of Belfast's first car bomb on March 20, 1972, which claimed the lives of 6 people. As we learn about this tragic event, we'll delve a bit deeper into The Troubles, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted approximately 30 years.

Next, we'll walk along Hill Street and through the historic red-light district, notorious for prostitution and illicit activities. Sailors and workers frequented its establishments, offering a glimpse into the city's darker nightlife.

In the Market District, we'll hear about the exploitation of child labour in Belfast’s linen and matchstick factories. From there, we'll move to the Merchant Hotel area, once home to Belfast's leather tanning industry.

Continuing along High Street, we'll visit St George's Church and its old city graveyard. We'll hear stories of the people buried at this graveyard, as well as terrifying tales of grave robbers... You'll be shocked! Afterwards, we'll go to Joy's Entry Jailhouse, where we'll uncover the harsh realities of 19th-century prisons.

Lastly, we'll make our way to Cathedral Quarter, near St Anne's Cathedral, at the site where Henry Joy McCracken was executed in 1798. A leader of the United Irishmen, McCracken was executed for his role in the rebellion against British rule, a sobering reminder of Belfast's turbulent past.

After around 2 hours, we'll conclude our tour on High Street, bringing this thought-provoking journey into Belfast's dark history to an end.