Visit the new exhibition in Belfast's City Hall which unfolds the story of this wonderful city.
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A new exhibition charting the history of Belfast gives a valuable insight into this complicated and beguiling city.
Housed in the iconic City Hall, the permanent exhibition consists of 16 rooms filled with images and artefacts that cover the beginnings of Belfast, from a quiet hamlet to the innovative city it is today. The different aspects of the city are presented across six themed ‘zones’, including the building of the world’s most famous ship, RMS Titanic and Belfast’s role in the United Irish Rebellion of 1798. The exhibition will evolve to feature significant changes faced by the city in the years ahead. On display “Artefacts such as the table on which the Ulster Covenant against Home Rule for Ireland was signed, as well others previously stored in various nooks, crannies and safes now have pride of place in the exhibition,” said Lord Mayor Alderman Brian Kingston, who opened the exhibition in May. If you are starting out on your Irish genealogy adventure, a touch-screen tablet allows you to check if your ancestors were among the 500,000 to sign the oath in protest at the introduction of Home Rule. Don’t lose the bap! To help you strike up conversations with the locals while on holiday, there is an interactive section that attempts to make sense of colourful local phrases such as 'your head is full of sweetie mice' and 'losing the bap', by translating them into eight languages. Another light-hearted exhibition focuses on children’s street games through the ages. Entry is free, although there is a £3.50 charge for headsets. The exhibition will be open Monday to Friday from 9.30am-5pm with a late night on Thursday when it opens until 8pm. Saturday and Sunday opening times are 10am-5pm. Tours of City Hall, which also operate daily, will continue to run alongside the exhibition. For more information on the new exhibition and regular tours, go to www.belfastcity.gov.uk/cityhall