Visit to Belfast City Hall. When Belfast was made a city by Queen Victoria, they decided to upgrade to a proper City Hall. This was built of the best Portland stone, with huge amounts of various types of imported marble lining the interior and was eventually finished in 1906. The money required (about £300,000) was found by using 2 years profits from the gas works. It makes you wonder how they managed to make such huge profits and what they did with the profits from all the other years!
Entrance hall. Marble in all directions.
Above the entrance hall. More marble and a 1 ton chandelier
In the council chamber
Pam as Lord Mayor
The ballroom
Belfast city crest on the ballroom carpet
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Visit to Stormont in the afternoon
Our guide gave us a very good run-down on the 20th century history of Ireland and explained how Stormont was established and how it has since changed. Too much to repeat here.
The drive is 1 mile long – very imposing and a bit of a struggle as we were running late for the tour
The main lobby
Lobby ceiling is beautifully decorated. The chandelier was an unwanted gift from the Kaiser of Germany to the Royal Family. When Stormont Buildings were built they were glad to donate it.
The main debating chamber. All the internal panelling and furniture was rebuilt after a fire caused by an electrical fault which occurred when Stormont was suspended during the troubles
The Reconciliation statue in the gardens
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