Cemeteries and memorials to visit Belfast

Owned by the city since 1869, this Protestant cemetery alone contains a page of Belfast's history. Here lie the people who "made" the history of the city, industrialists, politicians, businessmen and inventors. Celtic crosses testify to the acceptance of Irish symbols, until 1921 when these crosses became rare. The cemetery can be visited for its Victorian graves, some of which are real little (last) homes. Nearly 225,000 people are buried in this cemetery.

Milltown Cemetery, owned by the Catholic Church since 1869, traces the history of Belfast's republicans, some of whom died as a result of political events that separated the Protestant and Catholic communities. 154 republicans died for their cause of freedom and rights and are buried here (including Bobby Sands, Joe McDonnell and Kieran Doherty, three IRA volunteers who died on hunger strike in 1981). Memorial plaques are erected in memory of all these political activists.

This memorial garden is dedicated to the memory of the members of the IRA. The site hosts a rough stone fountain and benches for meditation. One of the significant events of the clashes in the neighborhood is recounted with the engraving of a woman defying curfew and bringing back food. It is important to know that every inhabitant in West Belfast has a strong family history with a member of the IRA or a political prisoner. The atmosphere here is reflected in the more than 20 memorials, plaques and gardens.