Book of Belfast's history to be published

A new book recounting the most dramatic century in Belfast’s history is to be published this week by Blackstaff Press, in association with Belfast City Council.

The lavishly illustrated ‘Enduring City – Belfast in the Twentieth Century’ documents some of the most formative events in the city’s history, including the tragedy of the Belfast Blitz and the Troubles, to the building of the Waterfront Hall and the ongoing regeneration of the city.

Contributions from an array of critics, scholars and commentators including Jonathan Bardon, Patricia Craig, Paul Larmour and Marie-Therese McGivern, explore all aspects of Belfast life from politics and architecture to popular culture.

Councillor Bernie Kelly, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Arts Sub-Committee is proud of the Council’s support in this project.

He said: “Enduring City forms an important part of our Celebrate Belfast 2006 programme – which is showcasing the cultural wealth of our city. This book is really quite breathtaking in its scope. It ably demonstrates how far we’ve come over the past century – and gives us a glimpse of the potential which lies ahead of us.”

Professor Frederick Boal, one of the book’s editors, commented: “I think of one word when I think of twentieth century Belfast: that word is ‘survival'.

“As a city, Belfast has endured more difficulties than most, but despite this she is entering the twenty-first century with renewed vigour. We hope that ‘Enduring City’ provides a valuable, stimulating and attractive record of how Belfast got to where she now finds herself.”

Co-editor Dr Stephen Royle added: “I came to Belfast in 1976 as a naïve young Englishman, not expecting to stay long. Thirty years later, our grown up children have Belfast accents and ‘we’ recently beat England 1-0 at football. Belfast rather grows on you, so it does.

“For 30 years I have been taking parties of geography students around Belfast. Back in the 1970s it was hard to believe that one day open top buses would take tourists on similar trips. Belfast has come a long way in recent years.”

(EF/KMcA)