1798 A Belfast Rebellion Walking Tour

“1798 – A Belfast Rebellion” is a 2 ½ hour walking tour within the city centre, uncovering Georgian Belfast and individuals who hoped for a better future. The tour starts and finishes at the gates of City Hall and tells the story of the origins and formation of the United Irishmen in Belfast, through to the 1798 Rebellion and its suppression. We will lead you through the important sites that remain today and introduce you to those who fanned the flames of Rebellion. You will learn what life was like for the Presbyterian’s of early Belfast, who were successful merchants and yet excluded from political influence, and discover how and why they allied with the Irish Catholics in an attempt to establish a more equal society for everyone on the island. Come and learn how these enlightened sparks lit a flame that set Ireland on fire.

1. 1

   Belfast City Hall

   15 min

   Our guide will begin the tour with an introduction to the history leading up to the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   10 min

   Discover the history of the library and it's most infamous librarian, the United Irishman, Thomas Russell.

3. 3

   St Mary's Roman Catholic Church

   10 min

   Hear how the penal laws impacted on Ireland's Catholics, and how the chapel was established in the late eighteenth century.

4. 4

   Kelly's Cellars

   10 min

   A secret meeting place for the United Irishmen as they plotted their rebellion, and an amazing, historic pub.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   10 min

   Hear how the Presbyterians became wealthy merchants in Belfast, and the most famous members of this church.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   10 min

   Hear about the most important meetings to take place in the Assembly Rooms, from the court martial of Henry Joy McCracken to the failed proposal for a Belfast slaveship company.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   10 min

   The first church in Belfast stood on this site, which is also the location from where Belfast gets it's name.

8. 8

   Joy's Entry

   10 min

   Discover the influence of the Joy family on Belfast, and how these historic Entries in the oldest part of the city have now become an outdoor art gallery.

9. 9

   Belfast City Hall

   15 min

   Finish your tour at the statue of Mary Ann McCracken, an abolitionist, educator, and United Irishwoman.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.