About

*Please note the Visitor Centre at the Cemetery is currently closed until further notice*

Dating back to the 1860s, Belfast City Cemetery is one of the oldest public cemeteries in the city.

It is the final resting place of many notable figures including Edward Harland, co-founder of Harland & Wolff; Margaret Byers, suffragist and founder of Victoria College; and Sir William Pirrie, chairman of Harland & Wolff in the Titanic era, and former Lord Mayor of Belfast.

Historic Attractions

The site also contains many points of historical interest, including the Poor Ground where over 80,000 souls lie in unmarked graves and an Underground Wall, which was built in Victorian times to separate Protestant and Catholic graves.

City Cemetery is the last resting place of 570 Commonwealth servicemen and women of both World Wars, making it the largest Commonwealth War Graves site in Northern Ireland.

Additionally, City Cemetery has a number of key listed heritage assets including the Central Steps, Victorian fountain and Jewish Cemetery.

With funding from the National Heritage Fund, Belfast City Council has delivered an exciting project to enhance the existing built and natural heritage of City Cemetery and increase people’s ability to access and understand it, while protecting and preserving it for future generations.

Visitor Centre

The building will include a free visitor exhibition space, with a full audio-visual learning experience, describing the rich history and heritage of the site and the notable figures buried within it. Visitors will also be able to carry out burial and genealogy searches on dedicated workstations.

There are two disabled parking bays at the rear of the Centre. There is an access ramp and door suitable for wheelchair access. The building has a hearing loop built-in to afford good communications access for those with hearing issues.

Outdoor Classroom

Summer scheme activity groups, community organisations, schools and colleges can use the Outdoor Classroom at the rear of the Visitor Centre, in late spring and summer months. The Outdoor Classroom is suitable for Cemetery-themed learning activities such as nature study and visual arts. The facility has a built-in toilet and preparation room. Prior booking is required to use this facility.

Guided Walking Tours

Tours can be organised by making a booking request. They will do their utmost to meet the dates or times specified. Depending on guide availability, they cannot always guarantee this. A good amount of notice must be given. Belfast City Cemetery offers visitors a smartphone app to support self-guided history walking tours. The app can be downloaded in either English or Irish language forms, from Google Play Store for android devices, or the alternative for iPhones.

Public Lectures

Lectures by heritage professionals are organised on many popular historical aspects of City Cemetery. These are on different dates throughout the year. Please see the events section of Belfast City Council’s website : https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events

Irish Language

The exhibition, including audio-visual parts, and the 13 interpretative panels located in the Cemetery, all offer a complete bilingual translation into English and Irish. City Cemetery is situated inside the west Belfast Gaeltacht area. They are committed to supporting the learning and cultural needs of the Irish language community. They also offer an Irish Language tour guiding service.