18/03/2003

Lord Mayor launches Titanic celebrations

Talks and storytelling, walking and boat tours, and a special commemorative exhibition are among the elements being brought together over eight days to commemorate ‘Titanic - Made In Belfast’.

Building on the success of last year’s 90th anniversary events – which attracted 31,000 visitors, almost one third of whom came from outside Northern Ireland – the 2003 ‘Titanic - Made In Belfast’ programme of events kicks off on April 19.

At the launch of the event in Harland and Wolff this morning, Lord Mayor of Belfast Alex Maskey said: “In the latter part of the 19th Century, Belfast could rightly claim to be the commercial and industrial capital of Ireland.

“The City boasted a proud array of industrial strengths, including the world’s largest shipyard, ropeworks and tobacco factory, and was at the forefront in textile engineering.

“Belfast City Council is proud to be hosting a week-long Titanic event, the purpose of which is to celebrate, commemorate and educate. The city can be proud of the magnificent technological achievement that was Titanic – no mean ship from no mean city.”

The events begins with the ‘Titanic At Home’ exhibition, which will be officially opened by Millvina Dean – one of only three Titanic survivors alive today – and John Parkinson, President of the Ulster Titanic Society, who as a child watched the liner leave port.

The main event, ‘Titanic At Home’, will focus on the creation of the ship, the workers and those who sailed aboard the ill-fated liner.

A special booklet, detailing all of the events being staged to celebrate ‘Titanic - Made In Belfast’, is being distributed to households throughout the City.

Further information also can be obtained from the Belfast City Council on 028 9027 0222 or online at www.belfastcity.gov.uk

(GMcG)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 April 2010
Titanic Celebration Ready For Launch
The City of Belfast is again preparing to commemorate and celebrate the world's most famous ocean liner, the RMS Titanic. The ninth annual 'Titanic Made in Belfast' festival - organised by Belfast City Council - begins this Saturday, and continues until Sunday 11 April, with tickets for various events now available at the Belfast Welcome Centre.
28 March 2012
Titanic Gears Up To Welcome The World
With just a few days until it opens at noon on Saturday March 31st, Titanic Belfast has revealed that almost 100,000 tickets have been pre-sold for its first year of operation.
22 December 2011
Titanic Centre Tickets Go On Sale
It is now just 100 days until the official opening of Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor attraction. Work on the internal fit-out of the iconic six-floor building in Titanic Quarter, Northern Ireland’s largest ever tourism project, is ahead of schedule and will be completed ahead of the official opening on 31st March, 2012.
27 March 2008
Lifeline Thrown To Sinking Titanic
It would be a real disaster if the Titanic were to 'sink again'. That's the reason Belfast City Council is set to investing £10m of ratepayers' money to co-fund a Titanic tourist attraction. The aim is to ensure the £90m Titanic Signature Project will be built by 2012 - after it struggled to secure the final funding needed.
02 September 2014
Titanic Quarter Businesses Win First WorldHost Award
Businesses in Belfast's Titanic Quarter are celebrating being awarded the city’s first WorldHost Tourism Hotspot.