Belfast Alainn~

Nov13

Belfast is beautiful!

Like Dublin, Belfast has scores of fascinating, historic old pubs to crawl. One of the most famous is The Crown built in 1827. The art deco interior has ten snugs, which are private mahogany booths with doors, surrounded by stained glass and hand made tiles.

Belfast City Hall has an array of striking stained glass windows depicting important events in Irish history. This glass is dedicated to the two million souls who suffered and died in the Irish potato famine.

City Hall itself is an architectural gem. Built in 1898, it has a gorgeous grand staircase,

replete with a stunning interior dome and rotunda.

Belfast is a very fun city to explore, full of vibrant street art, interesting shops,

and, as cannot be emphasized enough, wonderful pubs! Kelly’s is another classic pub. It is the oldest licensed pub in Belfast, built in 1720.

Kelly’s is lovely inside and out, and full of some of your soon to be newest best friends!

Cheers to you from soulful Belfast~

198 thoughts on “Belfast Alainn~”

    • Yeah, amazing concept isn’t it, just go in for a pub crawl, maybe a bite to eat, get a private snug of your own, surrounded by art deco glass, mahogany and these handmade, visually different tiles, and you get to close the door, for as long as you want to stay. I think I would like to go back in time,

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      • You know I wrestle with that….on so many levels going back in time would be awesome, but then I think of all the advancements we’ve made, and going back in time would be hard on a woman, and I settle back into current with gratitude. LOL I do want to one day visit somewhere that has snugs. 🙂

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        • If you time traveled you would have magic, obviously, right? You could right the wrongs, bring antibiotics and hand sanitizer, all that kind of stuff……laughing! Do visit a snug, it’s the magic of time travel without all that pesky reality!

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    • I love everything about these old pubs, the beauty, the charm, the history, and most of all the living, contemporary reality, of watching my husband order some sort of beer, and get in a heartfelt conversation that moved him to no end, with someone he just met.
      We don’t have this in the US and we are lesser for it.

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  21. What a colorful, charming city Cindy! The pub pics are my favorites– would love to be there, settled in to a table with friends and good conversation. Fun post– love seeing your travels! xox

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  25. All of your pictures are worthy of comment, but I will limit myself to Irish city halls. Boston has large populations of people of Irish and Italian heritage, and after seeing the Belfast City Hall and unavoidably knowing of Italian architectural skills, I cringed when thinking of the relatively recent construction of Boston City Hall. Built during the energy crisis, it is a large concrete structure with rooms vast in empty space needing heat. If ever this way, visit and photograph it. I don’t know who designed it, but, in its simplicity, the power of government is evident.

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    • I am not a fan of modern concrete block buildings, or tall glass box buildings either. It seems the more we progress, the more we lose of our souls. Thank you for your very kind comments.

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  26. Wow! I’ve always wanted to go there. I would love to do a pub crawl and find a place so beautiful as Kelly’s. Those stained glass windows are gorgeous and sad all in the same breath. Then to build such stunning architecture later shows that someone had money during those hard times. Thanks for the armchair tour. You are the best. Merry Christmas, Cindy.

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  28. Great post! Lovely city which I’ve always wanted to visit and although I am so close by I never have…thanks for such beautiful posts!

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