Famous Faces of Belfast

Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans six decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. Go on a journey through the east Belfast of Van Morrison’s youth. This trail, developed by Connswater Community Greenaway, offers a glimpse of some of the places the Belfast-born singer knew as a child growing up.

The Northern Irish rock band Snow Patrol was founded in 1994 originally playing indie rock tunes. Their path of international fame began with their 2002 album Final Straw which became 5 times platinum in the UK and sold 3 million copies worldwide. Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody is an official Belfast Music patron.

George Best was a Northern Irish professional footballer who played as a winger, spending most of his club career at Manchester United. A highly skilful dribbler, Best is regarded as one of the best players in the history of the sport. Take the George Best Trail Self-guided tour, discover east Belfast as world-famous footballer George Best would have seen it. You can also experience a taste of what life was like for a young George by staying in the George Best House in east Belfast.

Clive Staples Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland, on November 29, 1898. C.S. Lewis was a prolific Irish writer and scholar who wrote 40 books. C.S. Lewis was best known for his ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ fantasy series, which have been adapted into various films for the big and small screens. Continue your literary journey and rediscover The Chronicles of Narnia with a walk through CS Lewis Square, a public space commemorating the Belfast-born Chronicles of Narnia creator, CS Lewis.

Rory Daniel McIlroy MBE is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland who is a member of both the European and PGA Tours. He is a former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, having spent over 100 weeks in that position during his career.

Mary Ann McCracken was a social activist and campaigner in Belfast, Ireland, whose extensive correspondence is cited as an important chronicle of her times. Mary Ann McCracken was 57 years old when the Ladies’ Committee was formed in 1827. The first matter they considered was a method to instruct the girls of the Poor House in crafts that would provide a livelihood for them. Mary Ann McCracken was buried in the McCracken family plot in Clifton Street Cemetery.

From James Connolly birth in Edinburgh in 1868 to Irish parents, through to his death in Dublin 1916, his role as a pioneer of the early trade union movement and his extraordinary travels throughout Britain and America, the centre offers a thought provoking insight into James Connolly’s life, his politics and the impact he had on the history of the Island of Ireland. Head to the James Connolly Centre and immerse yourself in his rich history.

Carl Frampton MBE is a former professional boxer from humble beginnings in Tiger’s Bay, Belfast. He competed from 2009 to April 2021 and is a former two-weight world champion, having held the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight titles between 2014 and 2016, and the WBA featherweight title from 2016 to 2017.

Jamie Dornan is a Northern Irish actor from Holywood, who is best known for playing Christian Grey in 50 Shades of Grey. He has also starred in The Fall, The Tourist, Once Upon A Time, and Belfast. Initially beginning his career as a model in 2001, he appeared in campaigns for Hugo Boss, Dior Homme, and Calvin Klein. Dubbed “the Golden Torso” by The New York Times, he was ranked one of the “25 Biggest Male Models of All Time” by Vogue in 2015. In addition, he performed in the folk band Sons of Jim until 2008.