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the docks and warehouses, Sailortown had linen mills, factories, a large fire station, a hotel, boarding houses, a variety of shops and businesses, and many pubs and taverns. Later there were a number of boxing clubs and cinemas. Many local men found employment as dock labourers, carters or merchant seamen; the women worked in the mills and cigarette factories. Most families had men away at sea, including boys as young as 14. During the period when
Belfast reached its apex as the hub of the shipbuilding, engineering, and linen manufacturing industry, there were more than 2000 men working in the docks. The main distribution centre was beside the railway station with a constant flow of horses and carts passing through the main thoroughfares.
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187:(NUDL). He was successful in bringing the dockers and carters, both Protestant and Catholic, into the NUDL union. In May of that same year, he sent them out on strike after their employers refused their demand for higher wages, better conditions and union recognition. The strike soon spread across the city and the striking dockers and carters were joined by transport workers, coal heavers, shipyard workers, boilermakers, firemen, sailors, and factory workers. The strike lasted until 28 August, and was largely unsuccessful; the British Army was eventually sent in to restore order after the
171:
64:
84:
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houses in Ship Street was knocked down in the 1970s. The Docks area has been extensively redeveloped and only three houses from the original
Sailortown community remain standing. From the mid-1980s, the "Rotterdam Bar", an old historic pub at the corner of Pilot Street and the harbour gates close to Clarendon Dock, was a popular venue for live music – in particular
368:, was also from the area, having been born in York Street and raised in Back Ship Street. He was often seen walking his two pet lions through Sailortown. The lions, which he had obtained from a visiting circus, were kept inside a cage in a back yard at the end of Back Ship Street. He frequently invited local children in to see them.
166:
The working-class enclave of
Sailortown was established on partly reclaimed land in the mid-19th century and was Belfast's first waterfront village. It came into being in the period when Belfast's industry expanded and flourished; Sailortown was displayed on an 1845 Belfast street map. In addition to
202:
Protestants and
Catholics were not always segregated, often living in neighbouring houses and sharing the same workplace. As a rule, however, 'upper' Sailortown between Nelson St and York St was predominately Protestant, while the district closer to the chapel was mostly Catholic. Despite being host
288:
set off 22 bombs in
Belfast; one of the explosions destroyed the premises of a seed merchant on Garmoyle Street. Stephen Parker, who at age 14 became the youngest victim of the day's bombings, was the son of the Reverend Joseph Parker, at the time chief chaplain of the Flying Angel Club. This was a
178:
Life was hard for most of the people in
Sailortown as they had to endure harsh working conditions with low wages and return home to small, damp, dilapidated homes, which often housed more than one family. The waterfront was described as having been "desperate with crime and inhumanity". As a result
255:
The gradual demolition of
Sailortown began in the late 1960s to construct the M2 motorway. The population was largely dispersed and rehoused in districts such as the Shore Crescent, a Protestant development adjacent to the Greencastle suburb of North Belfast, and the New Lodge. The last terrace of
263:
The
Sailortown Cultural and Historical Society was founded in October 1999. Since the beginning of the 21st century, some new houses and apartment buildings have been built in the area as part of a Sailortown regeneration scheme. St Joseph's is currently in a state of renovation and is opened for
134:
The maritime-themed
Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church and St. Joseph's Chapel, a Catholic church, served as the places of worship for the Sailortown populace. Sinclair Seamen's church is still standing on Corporation Street as is St Joseph's, built in 1880 on Princes Dock Street. St Joseph's,
892:
Two minutes later, a bomb planted by armed men devastated the premises of John Irwin, seed merchant, at
Garmoyle Street in the docks area. Five minutes after that, a bridge spanning the M2 motorway at the Bellevue Arms, Antrim Road was undamaged when explosives in a car caught fire but failed to
562:
From the early 1970s, there had been a major program of urban redevelopment in Belfast that caused large areas of urban blight. One such area was Sailortown, at the end of the M2, the motorway that linked Belfast to its airport and the main shipping port at Larne. At a time when exresidents of
59:
Urban redevelopment in the late 1960s resulted in Sailortown's eventual demolition. As of 2021, only two churches, one pub and three houses remain of the once bustling waterfront enclave. However, a combination of private investment in the greater Docks area and building of social housing by
250:
Mural painted on the gable of the 19th-century Rotterdam Bar, corner of Pilot Street and Barrow Square close to Clarendon Dock. Pat's Bar, at the harbour gate in Prince's Dock St, is to the right of the photograph. The Rotterdam, also now closed, was formerly popular for live
214:
gang), was a dock labourer from Sailortown's Fleet Street. Jobs in Sailortown were traditionally passed from father to son; Lenny Murphy's grandfather had also worked as a dock labourer. Murphy was a common surname in Sailortown, albeit traditionally borne by Catholics.
289:
seamen's mission in Sailortown located on Corporation Street, providing a temporary home for visiting sailors. Several months before Stephen was killed in the Cavehill Road blast, a bomb exploded in the vicinity of the mission and destroyed part of the building.
229:
on the nights of 7 April, 15/16 April and 4/5 May 1941, the Docks being a strategic target for the German bombers. Many buildings in Sailortown were engulfed with fire, the docks were hit and the Victorian York Street Spinning Mill was completely destroyed.
304:
at the corner of Ship Street and Garmoyle Street. They were both killed in the blast and 12 customers inside the pub suffered injuries. There is a memorial plaque commemorating the girls on the façade of the defunct St. Joseph's church.
384:, are set in Sailortown's Docks. The latter book is based on the corrupt system which existed in the Docks beginning at the outbreak of the Second World War when men known as "Blue Button Men" were given preference in hiring over the
107:. Garmoyle Street serves as Sailortown's main arterial road, and at one time over 5,000 people lived in the small, cobblestoned streets of red-brick terraced houses packed between the docks and York Street. Visiting sailors from many
308:
Fireman Brian Douglas, a Protestant based at the old Whitla Street fire station, was shot to death on 7 February 1973 by loyalist paramilitaries whilst fighting a fire caused by street disturbances in Bradbury Place,
403:
vividly recreates Sailortown life in the early 1960s, its central theme being the fierce competition for jobs amongst the dockers and the power of the union which was the final arbitrator in who was hired or not.
139:
in 2001, due to falling attendances and the lack of a local community. There is currently a community-led campaign for the renovation of St Joseph's chapel and it is opened on occasion for events.
123:
added to the resident population, which was mixed Protestant and Catholic. People from all over the island of Ireland settled in Sailortown, including many who were left destitute during the
563:
Sailortown were demanding new houses to replace their demolished ones, the Northern Ireland Office was engaged in a major landscaping scheme at the end of the motorway, using land that ...
893:
detonate. At 3.05 Creighton's Garage on Lisburn Road was demolished by a car bomb, setting petrol pumps ablaze, and simultaneously an electricity substation at the junction of ...
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296:
night 1972, two young Catholic girls, Paula Strong (aged 6) and Clare Hughes (4), were in costume dress and playing near a bonfire when a 100-pound car bomb planted by the
67:
Whitla Street Fire Brigade station at the edge of Sailortown with the docks visible in the background. The firemen and their families lived in houses behind the station.
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to a steady stream of foreign sailors, Sailortown was a close-knit community and viewed strangers with mistrust and suspicion. William Murphy, the father of
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87:
Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church, in Corporation Street. The maritime-themed church was commissioned by Thomas Sinclair and built in 1856 by architect
320:
and associate Rab Carson were shot dead whilst travelling in a taxi in Nelson Street near the docks. They had just returned to Belfast after attending a
260:
bands. The 19th-century pub was slated for demolition in 2008. That plan, however, was shelved, although the bar has been closed from the early 2010s.
841:
411:
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142:
The Midlands Hotel, adjacent to Sailortown on York Street, was once known as one of Belfast's most prestigious hotels. Notable guests included
1009:"tales of old Belfast Characters, Buck Alec Robinson, Fred Crawford UVF Gunrunner, Jimmy Duffin, Pig Minelly.Mickey Marley, Michael McLaverty"
179:
of these factors, Sailortown became closely affiliated with Irish trade unionism and the Labour movement. In January 1907, trade union leader
196:
1013:
tales of old Belfast Characters, Buck Alec Robinson, Fred Crawford UVF Gunrunner, Jimmy Duffin, Pig Minelly.Mickey Marley, Michael McLaverty
360:, spent his childhood in Sailortown before his family moved to west Belfast. Notorious street fighter, bootlegger and member of the
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75:" is a dockland area "that catered to the transient population of seafarers" that have existed in seaports throughout the world.
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644:"Legacies – Immigration and Emigration – Northern Ireland – Italians – Radio, Pokes and Marble – Article Page 2"
313:. A study room is dedicated to his memory at the new Whitla Street fire station which opened later that year.
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who could only obtain work if they had fathers or brothers who were themselves employed as dockers. Novelist
246:
414:'s song "Sailortown" was written following a performance at the Rotterdam Bar. It is featured on his album
276:
Memorial plaque on St. Joseph's Chapel commemorating the two children killed in a 1972 UDA car bomb attack.
158:
575:
1149:
908:
Ireland: a terrible beauty; the story of Ireland today with 388 photographs, including 108 in full color
760:
Ireland: a terrible beauty; the story of Ireland today with 388 photographs, including 108 in full color
407:
Irish artist Terry Bradley was inspired by Sailortown to feature its dockers in a series of paintings.
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345:
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128:
614:"Sailortown Galleries – A selection of photo galleries reflecting life in Sailortown in bygone days"
238:
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104:
49:
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associations such as Clanmill has led to a growth in population since 2010 in the Pilot St area.
328:. The killing was carried out by rivals from the UDA's "C Company" as part of an internal feud.
301:
124:
504:
436:
131:", was largely based around Little Patrick Street adjacent to the southern end of Sailortown.
127:. The late 19th century saw the arrival of many Italian immigrants; this community, known as "
72:
376:
Sailortown native John Campbell has published poems about Sailortown, and two of his books,
281:
8:
100:
365:
574:
Thayer, Jonathan. "Mapping New York City's Sailortown – New Media Lab". New Media Lab
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211:
942:
Bear in Mind These Dead: An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland, 1969–1993
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Working-class dockland community in the docks area of Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Natives of Sailortown who achieved wider notability down the years include
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Houses on Garmoyle Street, one of the few parts of old Sailortown remaining
53:
1040:"Slums, brothels and seedy dives....journey into the dark side of Belfast"
700:"There is life in Sailortown and St Joseph's Church is at the heart of it"
509:. Routledge Advances in Urban History. Taylor & Francis. p. 313.
147:
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arrived in Belfast with the aim of organising the dock workers for the
112:
41:
310:
293:
223:
1066:"Belfast-based singer Anthony Toner set for his biggest gig to date"
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A special kind of courage: 321 EOD Squadron -- battling the bombers
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area north of Belfast city centre. It is bordered by Henry Street,
83:
45:
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325:
29:
728:"Rediscovering Belfast's forgotten maritime past – Stakeholder"
108:
540:
Politics and painting: murals and conflict in Northern Ireland
56:
commenced in Sailortown before spreading throughout the city.
120:
116:
790:"The Giant's Tale: the history and heritage of North Belfast
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and the Whitla Street dock gate. It was adjacent to the old
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Labour and Partition: The Belfast Working Class, 1905–1923
717:
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Cities and Creativity from the Renaissance to the Present
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however, is no longer in use, having been closed by the
242:
Short Street looking towards Prince's Dock Street, 2009
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898:
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606:
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543:. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 55.
810:The Shankill Butchers: A Case Study of Mass Murder
693:
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530:
475:. Pluto Irish library. Pluto Press. p. 95-.
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36:. Established in the mid-19th century on partly
1007:Magazine, Joe Graham Rushlight (3 March 2016).
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503:Van Damme, I.; De Munck, B.; Miles, A. (2017).
233:
802:
800:
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441:. Wild Rose Press, Incorporated. p. 201.
162:Remnants of tram lines on Prince's Dock Street
24:was a working-class dockland community in the
1000:
195:did, however lead to Larkin establishing the
1031:
945:. Beyond the Pale Publications. p. 35.
842:"Belfast's Rotterdam bar saved by recession"
662:
352:in 1973; and poet and writer John Campbell.
218:Parts of Sailortown were damaged during the
972:
793:
111:nations (in particular those bordering the
344:, a former senator in the by-then defunct
197:Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
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976:Stolen years: before and after Guildford
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590:. London: Routledge & K. Paul, 1967
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1038:Coleman, Maureen (18 September 2009).
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399:Playwright Martin Lynch's 1981 play
392:wrote about Sailortown in his novel
331:
670:"Last service in Sailortown church"
13:
698:Mulgrew, Brendan (23 March 2021).
14:
1161:
1087:
1019:from the original on 3 March 2016
410:Northern Irish singer/songwriter
316:In February 2003, UDA brigadier
185:National Union of Dock Labourers
620:. 29 April 2010. Archived from
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115:) and from even as far away as
1064:Bell, Jackie (20 April 2017).
973:Hill, P.; Bennett, R. (1990).
580:
568:
300:(UDA) exploded nearby outside
227:rained bombs down onto Belfast
1:
911:. Bantam Books. p. 262.
763:. Bantam Books. p. 245.
421:
372:Sailortown in popular culture
210:(the leader of the notorious
52:called by trade union leader
734:. 2 May 2014. Archived from
438:Asher, A Fictional Biography
234:Demolition and redevelopment
193:dockers' strike and lock-out
7:
979:. Doubleday. pp. 1–8.
905:Uris, L.; Uris, J. (1978).
757:Uris, L.; Uris, J. (1978).
78:
10:
1166:
577:Retrieved 3 February 2018.
346:Senate of Northern Ireland
298:Ulster Defence Association
280:On 21 July 1972, known as
153:
137:Diocese of Down and Connor
105:York Road railway station
1094:Old images of Sailortown
189:Royal Irish Constabulary
873:. Methuen. p. 64.
350:Loyalist paramilitaries
1070:BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
1044:BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
846:BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
348:, who was murdered by
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95:Sailortown is in the
86:
66:
1145:Districts of Belfast
732:stakeholdermedia.com
537:Rolston, B. (1991).
191:(RIC) mutinied. The
1117: /
939:Sutton, M. (1994).
807:Dillon, M. (2009).
650:. 29 September 2003
469:Morgan, A. (1991).
435:Clarke, L. (2017).
416:A Sky For Every Day
1150:History of Belfast
867:Ryder, C. (2005).
704:www.irishnews.com/
676:. 11 February 2001
366:Buck Alec Robinson
278:
264:community events.
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986:978-0-385-40125-8
952:978-0-9514229-4-6
918:978-0-553-01208-8
880:978-0-413-77223-7
820:978-1-4090-6522-7
770:978-0-553-01208-8
550:978-0-8386-3386-1
516:978-1-351-68179-7
482:978-0-7453-0326-0
448:978-1-5092-1606-2
362:Ulster Volunteers
332:Notable residents
212:Shankill Butchers
146:and 1960s singer
40:, it had a mixed
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394:Resurrection Man
382:The Disinherited
258:alternative rock
220:Second World War
144:Laurel and Hardy
50:1907 dock strike
48:population. The
34:Northern Ireland
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390:Eoin McNamee
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208:Lenny Murphy
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181:James Larkin
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125:Great Famine
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54:James Larkin
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302:Benny's Bar
148:P. J. Proby
101:York Street
1139:Categories
1109:54°36′32″N
1075:3 February
1049:3 February
1023:3 February
992:3 February
958:3 February
924:3 February
886:3 February
852:3 February
826:3 February
776:3 February
742:3 February
680:3 February
654:3 February
628:3 February
588:Sailortown
556:3 February
522:3 February
488:3 February
454:3 February
422:References
318:John Gregg
113:Baltic Sea
73:sailortown
42:Protestant
22:Sailortown
1112:5°55′16″W
709:1 October
354:Paul Hill
324:match in
311:Sandy Row
294:Halloween
224:Luftwaffe
222:when the
199:(ITGWU).
1017:Archived
674:BBC News
205:loyalist
109:European
79:Location
46:Catholic
28:area of
1098:YouTube
401:Dockers
326:Glasgow
154:History
30:Belfast
983:
949:
915:
877:
817:
767:
547:
513:
479:
445:
284:, the
251:music.
121:China
117:India
97:Docks
26:docks
1077:2018
1051:2018
1025:2018
994:2018
981:ISBN
960:2018
947:ISBN
926:2018
913:ISBN
888:2018
875:ISBN
854:2018
828:2018
815:ISBN
778:2018
765:ISBN
744:2018
711:2021
682:2018
656:2018
630:2018
558:2018
545:ISBN
524:2018
511:ISBN
490:2018
477:ISBN
456:2018
443:ISBN
380:and
338:SDLP
119:and
44:and
1096:on
648:BBC
292:On
71:A "
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