Donegall Place
City Centre
In the 17th century, this area was part of the formal gardens of Belfast Castle but today it is the thriving retail centre of the city. The scene is dominated by Belfast City Hall (1906), centred on Donegall Square and near this point is the Belfast Welcome Centre, the Tourist Information Office for Belfast and your gateway to Northern Ireland.
A number of points of interest can be reached from here. The Linen Hall Library (founded 1788), the oldest subscribing library in Ireland, is on Donegall Square North. Continue past it to Royal Belfast Academical Institution (1814) on College Square East then proceed up Great Victoria Street to see the Grand Opera House (1895), then call in for refreshment at the Crown Bar (1885).
Alternatively, continue down Donegall Place towards Royal Avenue. Turn left into Castle Street and continue to Chapel Lane to see St. Mary's Chapel (1784), the first Catholic Church in the city. The Lourdes Grotto in the grounds of the Chapel is a place of quiet visitation and prayer.
Visit Rosemary Street First (Non-Subscribing) Presbyterian Church (1783), Belfast's oldest place of worship. Nearby, the building that housed Belfast's Exchange and Assembly Rooms (1769) stands at the junction of North Street, Bridge Street and Waring Street.
[Illustration captions, from top to bottom, read]
this page online
• Grand Opera House
• St. Mary's Chapel
Erected by the City of Belfast.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Man-Made Features.
Location. 54° 35.847′ N, 5° 55.804′ W. Marker is in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Marker is at the intersection of Donegall Square North (Northern Ireland Route A1) and Donegall Place, on the left when traveling east on Donegall Square North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 Donegall Place, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT1 5BB, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Welcome to the City Centre (within shouting distance of this marker); Donegall Square North (within shouting distance of this marker); Belfast City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); First U.S.A.E.F. Landed in This City 26 Jan 1942 (within shouting distance of this marker); James Joseph Magennis (within shouting distance of this marker); The Water Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. James McDonnell (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); William James Pirrie (about 90 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belfast.
Also see . . . Visit Belfast. (Submitted on May 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3, 4. submitted on May 13, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on June 10, 2019.
