Belfast To Mark Titanic Launch

A host of events are set to take place in Belfast to mark the 100th anniversary of the launch of one of the city's most famous creations, the ill-fated Titanic.

The ship, which tragically went on to sink on its maiden voyage on April 15, 2012, was launched in Belfast Lough on May 31, 2011 by Harland & Wolff, which was then the world's largest shipyard.

The passenger liner had taken three years to build and took just 62 seconds to leave the slipway at the shipyard.

A religious service will be held at the docks today to mark the event and a flare will be set off at 12:13pm to mark the exact moment when the Titanic was launched, a hundred years ago.

The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum is also opening TITANICa: The Exhibition today. The exhibition, which will run until August 31, gives visitors the chance to view original objects recovered from the ship and explore a living history of the time through personal stories and recreations of people's daily routines, activities and stories in the surroundings of Titanic.

Visitors will also be given the opportunity to dress up in period costume and watch films featuring footage of the Titanic.

The Titanic sank on April 15 1912 after striking an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City, resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people.

(KMcA/GK)