Belfast - How it was

[@reggriffiths5769]

I thoroughly enjoy seeing these old photos of Belfast - many of the places I knew quire well. Well, I would never say "lovely old Smithfield Market," but certainly a place I spent many ddays and hours. It was, in fact, a rather seedy and quite diliapidated place, but somewhere you could buy virtually anything you wanted during the 196o's when I was a teenager. Satyrdays was always a great day to browsing there, but here I must share a very guilty secret. My home and school were not places I enjoyed, especially as I suffered with bad health. On many a schoolday I left home and caught the bus into town, and made straight for Smithfield, where I'd throw my schoolbag behind a pile of books, well out of sight. From there I'd go walkabout, then into one of the town's less=known cafes. Eventually I'd make my way back to Smithfield, have a long browse around the shops, pick up my schoolbag and catch the next bus home. My mother never knew...until one day she was informed of my truancy, went into the town an finally caught me. That was a day I never forgot, because she trailed me back to school where the head promptly gave me six on hand! But I was used to getting caned every other day from my bullying form master who took great delight in focussing his bad temper on me quite frequently. So I regard Smithfield with some very poignant memories. Happily, I turned out OK and had a reasonably successful life, Sadly, the Belfast I knew no longer exists, but I used to know most streets in and around. When I see the old photos of those old days, it seems to me that the Belfast streets and houses really were shocking in nearly all working class communities. Nevertheless, it's hard not to be nostalgic.

[@phild707]

Thanks for sharing your memories!

[@sammyd8860]

Reg, thank you for your honesty. Sometimes we look back with rose-tinted spectacles but we need to be honest with ourselves and you have been - thank you

[@peterkane8786]

.....Brought back some great memories, thank you.

[@sheilawells1571]

Made me cry didn't realise just how happy we were,oh to go back loved it and the song thankyou❤

[@belfastlass3474]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Our wonderful Belfast, the warmth and caring nature of our communities. I lived through the troubles and witnessed many atrocities. Such a shame.

[@georgeskillen5422]

Thank you for these photographs brings back lots of memories of my home city

[@georgeengelen7460]

I've come very late to this. I love it. I grew up in East Belfast, Ballyhackamore. I lived there from 1958 untill 1977. I remember so many of the places featured. The piece has been put together beautifully, the advent of the troubles "War Again", being synchronized with the onset of the drumming in Belfast. Child. Fantastic, thank you. George

[@phild707]

Thanks, very glad you enjoyed it. My family lived in Cyprus Park Ballyhackamore from 1959 to 1968. It was a great place to grow up in. I did my last two primary school years at Saint Joseph’s there. Phil.

[@georgeengelen7460]

@@phild707 wow, I went to St Joseph's untill 1970, we must have crossed paths. I went on to St Augustine's, 70 to 74. I lived in Kirkliston gardens, played on the railler and messed about north rd. Hope all's good for you. Crazy times Philip.

[@phild707]

@@georgeengelen7460 Crazy times indeed! Though I finished at St. Joseph's in 1961 almost a decade ahead of you. I am old enough to remember going under the arches before they were knocked down. I wonder was Paddy Rogan still there in your time? Spent a lot of time down on the old railway line raiding the apple trees in gardens that backed on to it. I only found out in recent years that Van Morrison and his friends had been doing the same thing before me! They used to walk from the Beersbridge Road up through Cyprus Avenue. Some of my cousins lived a while in the house on the corners where Kirkliston gardens meets Kirkliston Park Happy days George.

[@georgeengelen7460]

@@phild707 Yes, Paddy Rogan took over as head teacher from Mr McGee. The only people i remember at the corner of Kirkliston Gardens and Kirkliston Park were called the Twomblys. They backed right onto the old railway. First time i've heard that about Van Morrison, which is great. Great memories playing in the street and the lemonade man, bread man, coalbrick man and Arther the fish man coming down the street. very different times. even the post man had time to stop and talk to my mum or wrestle with us kids. you would'nt see that today Philip. I now live i Glastonbury England and it's beautiful here. My early childhood was magical, what a lucky boy i was. Take care Philp and keep on with the film making. Thanks. George

[@horatiotodd8723]

St josephs is still here

[@paulkirkpatrick6371]

Great looking back at those photos very nostalgic

[@evanelpus]

A beautiful little tapestry of a bygone era. Thank you for posting.

[@williamtaylor874]

i love this song ! aws

[@patsymillar9447]

Smashing pictures that brought back so many memories. Buying books with my daddy at Smithfield. Watching the Canberra and sea quest being launched when we lived on the shore road. Ridges on my bum from swinging round the gas lamp, even with a cushion. The lamplighter on winter nights lighting up the gas lamps.like the song says "thanks for the memories". Please can we have some more?

[@phild707]

It's been quite a few years since I did this one and sorry but I have no plans to do another. There are some excellent Facebook groups though that post and discuss old pics of Belfast such as 'Images and Memories of Old Northern Ireland Pre 2000'. Similarly there's also a Mid-Falls group and a Cavendish Street group and likely several more like that which might be of interest?

[@johnj.anthonymcquade6876]

do you remember doing curls on a rope swing on lamposts lol

[@andyhandy1]

I left over 50 years ago, but I still miss Belfast. What great times I had.

[@phild707]

Me too. I left in 1970. I've been back on short breaks in 2019 though. The old town seems even better now than it was then! A real buzz about the place.

[@amandahorner1735]

thanks for sharing

[@1dulchie113]

I know belfast as a place I went to see my relatives as a kid in 90s travellingfrom Dublin .. the falls Road great people I still love to visit Loved these pictures

[@stevenmcfall6448]

Amazing pictures and great back tune

[@phild707]

Thank you! It's remarkable how well images and music can combine.

[@hughcampbell2947]

Great collection of photos

[@desmcharris]

There is a song about Mickey Marley. I grew up in Andytown and Micky and his donkey were part of our life. The roses loved them too!

[@rosemarygordon8887]

Great to see the old images of our Belfast brilliant!!!

[@phild707]

Thank you! So pleased you enjoyed.

[@willneill5641]

the picture at 2;50 sec Mcleans of Nail street is me looking in the window, the two girls are Pauline Cush and Bridget Campbell from Scotch Street.

[@phild707]

Good to hear from you Will and to put names to those Belfast children. It is an extraordinary and captivating photo. You on tiptoe, nose pressed to the shop window, is an image that many of us can relate to because we did it too.

[@willneill5641]

Thanks Philp, I still remember those days fondly

[@screengodess1]

Great footage!!

[@phild707]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@phild707]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@leoharford]

Thanks so much Philip. I left there 50 years ago.

[@phild707]

Well I bought my ticket on the Larne-Stranraer ferry 40 odd years ago Leo but I will never really leave Belfast

[@barbaramcgeown6558]

Amazing Phil xx

[@phild707]

Thanks Babs!

[@phild707]

I'm glad you liked it

[@fergusalex]

brilliant......thank you

[@janetmannis8042]

People had very little those days but seem happier! Today we have everything yet we still want more? Why?

[@lizdoyle7158]

Because people then were much more into family n fun" people nowadays love things n money its how much In the money in bank ' Holidays in the sun ' motor cars 'big houses' greed has taken over' people those days Were much poorer ' yet richer in human kindess n respect' if people then had the money we have today they Would have shared this wealth more fairly than its done in 2021

[@deeppurple883]

When one takes a moment to looks around at the little thing's in life they would notice how alike we all are the world over . Our needs, wants, wishes, likes and dislikes are the very same only in a different language. And this one question keeps coming up time and time again, why do we fight and kill one another.

[@mn5499]

One of the best parts of the United Kingdom

[@Republican-gj6gw]

Ireland

[@Valencetheshireman927]

🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@thomascoogan3684]

You of course mean the Northern Part of Ireland.

[@mn5499]

@@Republican-gj6gwNo United Kingdom

[@mn5499]

@@thomascoogan3684Of course

[@teresacaldwell0220]

I would love to see photos of my family the Kanes from Grosvenor place . that owned the rag stores .my Aunt Annie née kane Then Hughes had one in Cape St then moved to Abrocorn St beside OUR 😍 park as in the Dunvile Park...

[@phild707]

Funny you should say that - I thought the Dunville Park was OUR Park 🙂. My dad Phil Donnelly had the grocery shop at the bottom of the Springfield from the 50's to the 70's. I had a quick look on the Belfast Forum for your people/places - not much to see but I did find a post by someone named Clare (p'raps you?) asking about Mary Slane B.1919 and with details of family names including Henry Kane, also lived on Abercorn Street.

[@thomascoogan3684]

I believe you are both referring to Abercorn Street North.

[@teresacaldwell0220]

I don't ever remember it being called Abercorn St North.

[@tigersbaygamer6222]

I knew the family that bought the micky marly merry go round a lot of years ago

[@mikedrown2721]

👍👌👏😊❤️🇺🇸

[@tstuart7333]

Duncairn Gardens used to be very beautiful 60s-mid 70s

[@phild707]

Yes it was - a tree lined Avenue in my memory

[@邱偉立]

i saw the beatles.......oh very nice

[@phild707]

I'm very pleased that you enjoyed these videos!

[@ProfileP246]

Belfast was built with the bare hands of the working class Shankill road people the falls road people tried to destroy it but what a sight to behold!

[@ayeright1131]

Who would have thought how it would turn out, all the good people in these pictures would have laughed at you if you had of told them that the ira terrorists would be in "government" one day.

[@martinrooney3670]

Well best nothing said

[@spongebob7258]

Shipyard? No catholics in that photo

[@harrybaker7390]

Thanks for the memories. I left Belfast nearly 50 years ago. I just miss the great times growing up in the 50s and my wonderful teenage years through the 60s. Life was a lot simpler back then.

[@ciarsymal]

You got that right