More walking tours in Northern Ireland by popular demand

12 June 2009 -

More walking tours exploring Belfast's hidden history are being lined-up due to the phenomenal demand created by the events during June.

Extra tours will run from July 1st to 8th, lead by leading archaeologists Ruairi O'Baoill, from the Centre for Fieldwork and Archaeology at Queen's University, and James O'Neill, a specialist in conflict archaeology.

The tours begin from outside the front gates of Belfast City Hall and include an insight into the history which lies buried beneath Belfast's streets - a great deal of which has only been rediscovered in the past 20 years.

Belfast's buildings have been affected by historical events including the Nine Years War, the Farmers' Revolt of 1770 and the Belfast Blitz, and the experts will examine how these experiences have shaped the face of modern Belfast.

Last month, figures released by the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau indicated out-of-state visitors to Belfast increased by 41 per cent to 2.2 million, while the number of those staying overnight increased by 11 per cent to 1.6 million, more people than in any other year in the last decade.