Friar's Bush Cemetery full of history but more could be done to promote it, guide says
Tour guides say Stranmillis site has both fascinating history and rich biodiversity
The council is being asked to do more to promote the heritage of a Belfast cemetery that has been described as a 'time capsule' of the city's history.
Friar's Bush Cemetery in Stranmillis has been a burial site in the city for hundreds of years and is the final resting place to some of Belfast's most famous former residents, including Thomas Lavery of the family who founded Lavery's Bar and Barney Hughes the inventor of the iconic Belfast Bap.
Each headstone in the graveyard tells its own unique story and can give people a snapshot into what life was like for people living in Belfast 100 to 200 years ago.
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Alongside the history of the graveyard, it has also become a safe haven for local wildlife and a hotspot of biodiversity full of wild flowers and a number of foxes that recently featured on BBC's Springwatch.
Speaking to Belfast Live, one of the tour guides at Friar's Bush, Mark Doherty said he feels much more could be done to open up the space to the public, academics, and historians while working to restore some of the memorials.
Mark said: "The more time you spend here in Friar's Bush the more history of the city you uncover and each stone gives an insight into the lives of everyone who is buried here, which includes some of Belfast's most notable residents and families. This includes celebrated Irish Harp professor Valentine Rennie, inventor of the Belfast Bap Barney Hughes, a 'Sailorman from Trafalgar,' a Serjeant who fought the United Irishmen and two United Irishmen!
"There is also an insight into some lesser known but fascinating people, such as Rose Garvan who lived until she was 100 years old and Blacksmith James Donaldson who is buried here alongside 16 of his children. We actually discovered Rose's headstone by noticing it in a documentary about the comedian Dave Allen and when we checked the location found it under the grass.
"Most of the stones we have discovered have come from just noticing a stone poking out of the ground or a patch of dead grass, and we take great care in clearing the grass away so as not to cause any damage. You can also see the connections that the people of Belfast had around the world as some graves document children who have moved to America, Europe or Australia.
"It is also a great hotspot of biodiversity with the range of wildflowers that grow here alongside the animals and the foxes who were recently featured on BBC's Springwatch.
"There is certainly a challenge here for the council to promote and protect Friar's Bush Cemetery, but there is a lot of support and we have visitors coming from across the world to take part in the tours."
Tours lead by qualified guides all summer on Friday & Saturday at 11am. £15 for a 90 minute tour, no booking required. Primary school children go free with parents. Private tours by arrangement - phone 07796617578. See Facebook page Friar's Bush Graveyard Belfast for regular posts on the history of this place.
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