Famine Graves in Belfast Officially Recognized
Unmarked graves of thousands who died in Belfast during the Irish famine have been officially acknowledged following a campaign led by a young historian. More than 170 years after the first burials, Belfast City Council has formally recognized the burial ground.
Dr Robyn Atcheson, a historian based at Queen's University Belfast, has been advocating for this recognition for five years, engaging with politicians and public officials to raise awareness of the site.
"I feel very honoured to have been a part of this and I feel overwhelmingly pleased that these graves are finally marked."
The burial ground is located on land in south Belfast that has since been developed for housing. Only a gate-post and a small section of the original wall remain on Donegall Road, near the City Hospital.
On the gatepost, a memorial plaque now bears the inscription: "They all had names."
At least 10,000 bodies were interred at this cemetery, which opened in the late 1840s and closed in the early 1900s. The site was primarily used to bury impoverished individuals from a nearby workhouse, including many who died during the Irish famine in the late 1840s.
Until this recognition, there was no marker or acknowledgment of the graves beneath the streets in this area.
While there is no exact count of the graves, Dr Atcheson estimates that as many as 60,000 people may have been buried there over a 70-year period.
"It's so important to remember the forgotten people from history - the women, the poor, the oppressed, the sick."
Commemorative Ceremony and Political Support
The unveiling of the commemorative plaque was attended by politicians from across Belfast's political spectrum, as well as a Catholic priest, reflecting a broad community recognition of the site's significance.
Representatives from the Alliance Party and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) were present at the event.
SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown commented on the historical neglect of the site:
"The fact that it was such a massive graveyard here, and that it has largely been forgotten about, is a travesty."
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tracy Kelly from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), described the plaque as long overdue.
"For too long, this significant chapter of our city's history remained hidden, but now we can ensure that those who suffered within the walls of the workhouse are finally remembered with the dignity they deserve."
Historical Context and Site Details
An Ordnance Survey map from the 19th century shows the precise location of the burial ground. It was situated a short distance from the Belfast Union Workhouse, which closed in 1948 and has since been demolished. The City Hospital now occupies the site.
Father Martin Magill emphasized the importance of the plaque's installation.
"I'm very struck by the wording 'They all had names'.
It's so easy to forget people. It's really good that this has happened."
The burial ground dates back to 1848, a time when Belfast was still classified as a town rather than a city.
At Belfast City Hall, a stained-glass window commemorates those who died during the famine in the 1840s, accompanied by a plaque referencing the graveyard on Donegall Road. However, until now, there was no marker on the road itself to signify the site's history.
