20 things you might not know about Belfast

1. RMS Titanic was built in Belfast

This British passenger liner was the largest ship afloat at the time of entering service. Titanic was built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. Speaking of the shipyard...

2. Belfast's famous shipbuilding cranes are called Samson and Goliath

Some people think they should be called Samson and Delilah. These cranes have become landmark structures of the city. Each of them can lift loads up to 840 tonnes. If you'd rather stick to dry land, though...

3. John Boyd Dunlop invented the pneumatic tyre in Belfast

Bicycles fitted with his tyres soon started winning Belfast cycling races. One of the losers later set up a business franchise with J B Dunlop - to start producing the tyres in Dublin.

4. Sir James Murray invented Milk of Magnesia in Belfast

Not all Belfast inventions are transport-related! In 1829, Sir James Murray's preparation was used to treat the stomach pain of the Marquess of Anglesey. It worked - and got him a knighthood in the process...

5. Lord Kelvin came up with the 2nd law of thermodynamics in Belfast

This British mathematician and engineer, born in the city of Belfast, was the first British scientist to be elevated to the House of Lords. His statement of the physical law concerning heat and energy came in 1854.

6. Tourists spent over £430 million in Belfast in 2022

Every year, over 9.5 million visitors arrive. They support over 17 thousand tourist jobs across the city area. What to do once they're there? Here's an amazingly cute idea...

7. Belfast Zoo is home to the only Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos in the United Kingdom and Ireland

The zoo is only one of 22 worldwide to host Goodfellow's tree-kangaroos. These charming creatures are native to New Guinea's rainforests. They don't do well on the ground, and prefer trees. Good job they're in Belfast, because...

8. There are 5000 acres of park in Belfast

That's over 40 parks! There are Botanic Gardens and Rose Gardens, and plenty in between.

9. One-third of the population of Northern Ireland lives in Belfast

There are almost two million people living in the Northern Ireland. Almost 700,000 of them call Belfast their home.

10. Queen's University taught both Catholics and Protestants from 1845

The university received its charter in 1845 as "Queen's College, Belfast". The official opening happened four years later.

11. Belfast has its fair share of famous alumni

Seamus Heaney (Poet and Nobel Prize winner), David Trimble (First Minister of Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2002) and Mary MacAleese (8th President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011) are all alumni of Queen's University.

12. Sir Kenneth Branagh won an Oscar for his screenplay to "Belfast"

The famous actor and director was born here. In 2021, his autobiographical film "Belfast" was nominated seven times at the Academy Awards. The city has more thespian heritage to brag about, though...

13. Liam Neeson first trod the boards at Belfast's Lyric Theatre

The actor joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in 1976. One year later, he got his first film role: playing Jesus (no pressure). As for musical debuts...

14. Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' was first played live in the Ulster Hall

The song was performed by the band on 5 March, 1971. Led Zeppelin's bassist remembers the crowd reaction. "They were all bored to tears waiting to hear something they knew."

15. Napoleon's Nose overlooks the city

Cavehill is a rocky hill overlooking the city of Belfast. Its shape - resembling that of a sleeping giant - possibly inspired Jonathan Swift to write Gulliver's Travels.

16. The Albert Clock is Ireland's Leaning Tower of Pisa. It leans 1.25m to the left

The construction was completed in 1869. In 2002, the clock's foundations were strengthened - but the inclination remains.

17. Oscar Wilde's favourite Belfast building is now a Marks & Spencer

In 1884, a report on a speech given by Oscar Wilde praises the warehouse as "beautiful in colour, and very beautiful in design". The building was originally a linen warehouse and showroom. But if you like your architecture more pint-sized...

18. Bittles Bar is the smallest pub in Belfast

Built: 1868. Location: near Victoria Square. Original name: "The Shakespeare". Social distancing: tricky.

19. Belfast's "Big Fish" sculpture has roots in old myths

There are plenty of names for the big blue fish on Donegall Quay. One of them refers to the Salmon of Knowledge. The animal features in Irish mythology, and is said to possess all the knowledge of the universe.

20. The astrophysicist who discovered pulsars was born here

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was born in Lurgan in 1943. She discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967. She also worked for The Open University as a tutor, consultant, examiner, and lecturer.