Shipyard Stories at EastSide Visitor Centre

There will be a series of talks taking place in EastSide Visitor Centre next week (Monday 12th- Friday 16th March).

These #ShipyardStories will reveal more about the men and women who helped shape our maritime heritage.

Tickets available from EastSide Visitor Centre or by clicking here   


Mr Titanic, Viscount William James Pirrie

Monday 12th March, 7.30pm

It could be argued that no single man in history has done more to develop international shipping, particularly at a time when large scale emigration was shaping the western world. Pirrie formed the largest shipyard group in the world and created many of the largest and most famous ships of his generation. Local expert Mark Doherty will share his insight into this truly remarkable pioneer. 


Titanic Cemetery Tour

Tuesday 13th March, 7.30pm

An armchair tour of Belfast City Cemetery, with a whistle-stop call of Dundonald Cemetery, looking at those connected with Harland & Wolff's most famous ship. This tour will 'visit' the final resting places of some of those killed during the construction of the Titanic as well as memorials to those who perished in the disaster. Neither Leonardo nor Kate will feature in this hour long armchair tour, but Peter McCabe - a self-confessed taphophile (look it up) will!

EastSide Visitor Centre is hosting ‘Shipyard Stories’, a week of fascinating talks from local experts celebrating the lives of the men and women from east belfast who helped shape our city’s rich maritime heritage.
 


Titanic Shipbuilder, Thomas Andrews Jnr

Wednesday 14th March, 7.30pm

Thomas Andrews Junior (1873-1912) was the chief naval architect of RMS Titanic and was one of the many lost on the ship's ill-fated maiden voyage. 

Born in Comber, County Down, to an illustrious family, Thomas studied at night-classes and worked his way up in the shipyard, earning the respect of all.

Author of "A Chronicle of Comber, Town of Thomas Andrews Shipbuilder," local historian and Blue Badge tourist guide, Laura Spence, will deliver a talk on the Andrews family, giving some background into the life and times of 'Tommie' as the family knew him.


In the Footsteps of the Yardmen

Thursday 15th March, 7.30pm

An armchair version of Laura Spence’s fascinating walking tour of east Belfast following in the footsteps of the Yardmen who “built the ships that would wear out the oceans”. Laura will share photographs and describe the streets of 'two-up-two-down' terraces and the everyday lives of the men and women of East Belfast during the days of the shipyards. 


Belfast's Shipyards & The Great War

Friday 16th March, 7.30pm

Local historian Nigel Henderson will use the unveiling of war memorials at Harland & Wolff and Workman Clark shipyards to highlight the numbers that served and died.  The statistics will be accompanied by biographies on some East Belfast shipyard workers who served in the Great War, with a mixture of fatalities, POWs and men discharged due to wounds or illness.