2014 European Heritage Open Days - 13/14 Sep - free access to hundreds of NI buildings #ehodni

This weekend over 400 properties across Northern Ireland will open up to the public – for free – as part of European Heritage Open Days. The full programme (and list of amendments and corrections to the printed brochure) can be found on the Discover Northern Ireland website.

I’ve consistently blogged about EHOD in previous years, and many of the venues and attractions listed in old posts are open again this year. So it’s worth a peruse of the old posts to find some gems.

Belfast

Currently celebrating 125th year of operation, the tour around Belfast Central Library has long remained unticked on my EHOD to do list. Tours 10.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday.

Over the weekend, the sound of church organ recitals will fill various St Peter’s Cathedral (Saturday and Sunday, 8.30am-7pm), May Street Presbyterian (Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12.30pm-4pm) and Townsend Street Presbyterian (Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 2pm-6pm).

The Masonic Hall in Arthur Square (better known as Cornmarket) has been refurbished and offers fantastic rooftop views across Belfast city centre as well as an insight into a somewhat mysterious organisation. Open on Saturday from 10am-4pm with a tour at 11am.

Templemore Baths (at the top of Templemore Avenue) are open on Saturday from 11am-3pm with tours of the community trust-maintained baths on the hour and a short documentary by Lorna Milligan How far can you Swim, Son? showing every ten minutes between 1pm and 3pm.

While Sunday’s Art Deco tour in Belfast is fully booked, another free tour has been arranged for Sunday 21 at 10.30am – you can register through PLACE. Spaces are still available on tours looking at the architecture of Donegall Square, city centre churches, and an urban photo walk. More details and booking at PLACE.

Twenty minute tours around Belfast Waterfront Hall will take place on the hour between 10am and 6pm on Saturday,

If you’ve never visited Sinclair Seaman’s Presbyterian Church (tucked in beside the Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office on Corporation Street) it’s well worth a trip to see the novel pulpit and naval artefacts throughout the building. Open on Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm with tours subject to demand.

If you book you can join free tours of the Grand Opera House on Saturday and Sunday at 10am, 11am and noon. The Ulster Hall is also open for guided tours on Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 10am-noon.

Lisburn

Hilden Brewery is running a free tour around Ireland’s oldest independent brewery at noon on Saturday and Sunday. [Brings back memories of our class visit in P7 when we came away from the brewery with school blazer pockets full of hops to chew on for the next month!]

The R-Space Gallery (32 Castle Street) in Lisburn was once the Cathedral Rectory and is now a thriving visual arts and crafts space. Open on Saturday between noon and 5pm, hard hat tours are available and talks at 2pm and 4pm.

Beyond!

The Victorian country house Drumalis (just outside Larne on the Glenarm Road) is open with free tours on Saturday afternoon (noon-4pm) and afternoon tea is available to purchase.

The Moravian Church at Gracehill (outside Ballymena) opened in 1765 and is running tours on the hour on Saturday (open 12.30pm-5pm). The nearby Gracehill Old School is also open on Saturday 12.30pm-5pm with a living history exhibition running throughout the afternoon.

Star shows at the Armagh Planetarium are free on Saturday, though you need to book. http://www.armagh.co.uk/event/free-shows-for-european-heritage-open-day/ Open between 10am and 5pm.

A Cold War bunker buried 15 feet under a field http://www.nibunker.co.uk on the outskirts of Portadown will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday (11am-5pm). FULLY BOOKED

There are countless other venues open to potter around or more formally tour across Northern Ireland with a strong showing up in Derry, including a guided urban walk around the city centre (booking required, but places still available).

European Heritage Open Days 2013 - this weekend (14 and 15 September)

It’s European Heritage Open Days weekend in Northern Ireland. It’s your chance to get inside over four hundred buildings without paying and to find out about their use and history.

This year the buildings will be joined by artists, poets, storytellers and other performers who’ll be giving the weekend a cultural slant. Settle into a pew and see the film To Kill A Mocking Bird in Belfast’s Rosemary Street Church at 8pm on Saturday. And check out the excellent Wireless Mystery Theatre who will be broadcasting old-time radio shows and commercials from Sawyers in the Fountain Centre every twenty minutes on Saturday afternoon.

Away from Belfast, the R-Space Gallery in Lisburn (32 Castle Street) is hosting Shrieking Sisters, a rehearsed play by Carol Moore and Maggie Croni about Suffragette Lilian Metge who attempted to blow up Lisburn Cathedral in 1914. Play on Sunday at 3pm preceded with by a guided walk at 2.15pm. Booking essential.

UU graduate Jonny McEwan – who’s responsible for the fantastic panels on the side of the Skainos building on the Lower Newtownards Road – has created a site-specific video installation that can be experienced in Armagh Public Library. Saturday 11am-6pm; Sunday 2pm-6pm.

But back to the buildings …

Every year people rave to me about the Belfast Central Library tour. The library is open to wander around most of the day, but the behind the scenes tour is at 11.30am (until 12.15pm). The Linenhall Library's worth a tour too. PLACE have organised a Mapping Belfast walking tour that will consider how Belfast has (and could) be mapped, and how this helps us understand the city. Leaves the front of PLACE (40 Fountain Street, near the back of Boots) at 11am. At noon another tour leaves the same spot to investigate the Art Deco buildings that can be spied across the city. Fully Booked.

The MAC’s architects are giving tours around the Cathedral Quarter arts venue at 10am and 11am on Saturday morning. Given my lack of appreciation for the outside of the building, and my ability to get lost inside its concrete floors, maybe I should book a place!

A bumper number of buildings are open in Derry this year. The Tower Museum is worth a visit, and a tour of The Playhouse will turn up some unexpected history. And if Derry's Freemasons’ Hall is anything like the Belfast one (also open in Cornmarket/Arthur Square), it’ll be worth a look inside. The Apprentice Boys' Memorial Hall is open too.

Downpatrick Court House – scene of some of my early blog posts about jury service – is running tours on Saturday. Both Armagh Observatory and Armagh Planetarium are open on Saturday.

A good selection of Lisburn churches – many of them listed buildings – will throw their doors open on Saturday ... but not Sunday! One year I’ll remember to call in Castle House (on Lisburn’s Castle Street), the former residence of Sir Richard Wallace.

You can get into Stormont Castle and see the polo-mint table the Executive sit around (a truly odd piece of furniture) on Saturday and Sunday. Parliament Buildings – which runs tours all year round – is open too. The Clifton Street Orange Hall – complete with minutes of an Orange lodge meeting in Irish – is open on Saturday.

Lots of buildings and events all across Northern Ireland. Check out the NI Environment Agency's EHOD website for times, maps and last minute changes. PDFs for Belfast and the six counties are available if you haven't been able to find a paper brochure.

Open House Dublin runs from 4-6 October, with 100 buildings open across the city. Much anticipated will be the chance to tour around Google's European headquarters in Dublin's Docklands. Open House Galway is on 10-13 October. The European Heritage Days website – along with its twinkly map – will allow you to explore wider flung opportunities.

European Heritage Open Days - free entrance to buildings across NI this weekend

It’s a weekend of opportunities with European Heritage Open Days, East Belfast Festival, Portrush International Airshow and Proms in the Park at the Titanic slipway all running.

On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September, over 300 buildings will open to the public for free as part of the fifteenth annual European Heritage Open Days. The full programme is available to download, or split into smaller county-wide sections.

In Belfast, there are a number of architectural walking and bus tours, above ground and below.

Guides will also take you around Central Library, the MAC, PRONI (the Public Records Office), Victoria Square, Linenhall Library, Freemason’s Hall, the Ulster Hall.

Up nearer Botanic Gardens, check out the First Church of Christ, Scientist with its architectural similarities to Portmeirion and the set of The Prisoner. Parliament Buildings is open (as usual) with very frequent tours around the NI Assembly, library and galleries. And Stormont Castle, the home of the NI Executive and OFMdFM, is also open over the weekend. The headquarters of the Belfast County Orange Lodge as well as Ballynafeigh Orange Hall are open and offering refreshments.

Further afield the 36.5m tall St John’s Point lighthouse is open on the Sunday (sadly fully booked already). Up on the north coast, the architect will offer a guided tour around the new Giant’s Causeway visitor centre.

Two homes from the BBC’s House of the Year show are open this year: the ‘Origami House’ in Kells and 2012 winner Robinsview in Ballycloghan. Both tours are fully booked.

Armagh Observatory is opening up on Saturday, and the neighbouring Armagh Planetarium is offering free star shows, though booking is essential. Many churches are open, some even open on Sunday!

Note that not all buildings are open on both Saturday and Sunday. Check the EOHD website for opening hours.

European Heritage Open Days - Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September - across Northern Ireland #ehod11

European Heritage Open Days are only around the corner. The time of year when buildings through open their doors and allow the public in for free to see inside buildings that are often out of bounds to casual observers.

Organised by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (part of the Department of the Environment), more than 300 events and properties are being offered on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September.

Last year, Littl’un and I took in a tour of Linen Hall Library, explored Freemason’s Hall in Cornmarket Arthur Square (and enjoyed a really cheap cup of tea with an amazing view), and wandered around the oldest church in Belfast, First Presbyterian (non-subscribing) in Rosemary Street.

This year there are numerous tours around Belfast: looking at the hidden history underneath Belfast’s streets; an architectural treasure hunt (organised by PLACE); tours of the newly restored Central Library; a walking tour around Victorian and Edwardian buildings by Young and MacKenzie architects (who designed Crescent Arts Centre); touring BBC Broadcasting House; as well as a look inside Stormont Castle (home of the NI Executive) and Parliament Buildings (home of the NI Assembly).

First Church of Christ, Scientist (University Avenue/Rugby Road) was designed by Clough Williams-Ellis, the architect behind Portmerion which served as the backdrop for the original Prisoner series. Previous visitors rate it highly.

The rebuilt Lyric Theatre is offering three tours of its expanded premises – booking essential.

One novel addition to the normal schedule is a private home at 47A Ravenhill Road describing itself as ‘a family home build to a modest budget in a rational modernist idiom referenced to vernacular form’. Telephone pre-booking essential.

The Lock Keeper’s Cottage at Newforge is open … you could stop for a cup of coffee in the nearly Lock Keeper’s Inn café if you’re feeling thirsty!

Many of Lisburn’s city-centre churches are open on Saturday (with the majority paradoxically closed to visitors on Sunday). C J Lowry’s jewellery shop at the junction of Market Square and the top of Bridge Street has recently been restored.

Hillsborough Castle and Grounds are open to the public, as well as the nearby Court House, Fort and Friends Meeting House.

Armagh County Museum, Court House, Gaol, Public Library (treasure hunt for children), Observatory and Planetarium are all open, along with the Charles Lanyon-designed Tourist Information Centre on English Street – CANCELLED and the ‘flamboyant’ Gospel Hall on Mall West (which started out life in 1884 as a Masonic Hall).

Tours of the Maze / Long Kesh site are being organised on the Saturday. Pre-booking essential.

Some National Trust properties are open too – waiving their normal entrance charges.

Copies of the EHOD brochure are available in local libraries as well as some arts venues. You also download the sections for Belfast, County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone.

This year, EHOD are also promising some free audio tours to download covering Belfast, the walled city of Derry and the Causeway Coastal Route. Warning: I didn’t have much success unzipping them on a Mac. You may have more luck on a PC.

Something for everyone … including the thousand or more delegates at Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheis which will be in Belfast over the same weekend.

European Heritage Open Days 2010 - a dander around Belfast

On Saturday morning I visited a number of buildings in Belfast that were participating in the programme of European Heritage Open Days.

The Linen Hall Library tour somewhat disappointingly turned into a prolonged talk about the library’s history rather than an exploration of the deeper recesses of the library building and its collections. Not that the history wasn’t interesting and librarian John Killen was certainly worth listening to. I imagine that coming up to the library’s 225th anniversary in 2013 we’ll hear a lot more about its historic narrative and plans for the future.

If I ever retire and decide to devote myself to self-education through the medium of Radio 3 and Radio 4, I’ll consider membership of the Linen Hall Library (pension-permitting) as a bonus pastime!

While Littl’un sat downstairs enjoying the monthly Children’s Storytime, I followed the crowd upstairs to the Grosvenor’s Room.

Some of the library’s most treasured artefacts are stored in a large wooden chest, including the earliest known surviving edition of the Belfast Newsletter - itself the oldest English language daily newspaper still in publication in the world (which first went to print in 1737).

Freemasons’ Hall in Cornmarket Arthur Square was open.

Members of Masonic lodges welcomed members of the public in to view the building.

Every room and broom cupboard in the building was on display.

Heraldry and icons were everywhere, from the patterns of the carpet, to the cut-outs in the banisters and the designs on the wooden chairs.

To me it felt oppressive and claustrophobic. A tall room was dominated by multiple sets of thick curtains hanging from the ceiling and guiding visitors’ eyes to the front stage.

There were two highlights – both on the third floor. A cup of tea/coffee and a chocolate biscuit for £1 was probably the best bargain in Belfast on Saturday morning. Even better, children got their orange juice and biscuit for free. Freemasonary generosity and charity in action.

But even better was the view out of the window. Looking south west, there was a fascinating view across the city centre roof tops. Different levels and different styles formed a collage of materials and shapes. And by standing on your chair (ahem) it was possible to get a birds eye view of the Squiggle.

Sitting on Rosemary Street, First Presbyterian Church is the oldest church in Belfast.

It is now home to a Non-Subscribing Presbyterian congregation.

It lacks the normal straight lines of most old church buildings.

Instead it is unusually elliptical in shape with tall box pews downstairs - though a wider angle lens would do it more justice! (Update - Steve Barnes got the shot!)

Tucked in behind the pulpit I unexpectedly noticed a plaque remembering one of their previous organists – R.A. McGraw – my music teacher in first form at school.

The organ pipes were fascinating!

Calling in to show Littl'un the budgies and stumbling across the Hare Krishna parade (marking Jagannath Rathayatra) completed our mini-tour!

You can see other photos from the morning over on Flickr.

European Heritage Open Days 2010 – Saturday 11 and Sunday 12

Ever wondered what lay behind the austere exterior of a building you walk past every day on the way to work? The annual European Heritage Open Days are a great chance to get inside buildings that are not normally open to the public as well as to see areas normally kept private in more familiar buildings.

The number of participating buildings increases each year, and on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September over 260 buildings across Northern Ireland will be flinging open their doors and welcoming you in ... for free!

The NI Environment Agency provide handy PDF guides for Belfast as well as Co. Antrim, Co. Armagh, Co. Down, Co. Fermanagh, Co. Londonderry and Co. Tyrone. Note that not all buildings will open both days, so you’ll need to click through to check the NIEA website for exact details.

Belfast City Hall runs tours six days of the week all year round, but will have extended opening this weekend. Open Day regulars enthuse about the guided tour around the normally private parts of Belfast Central Library – there’s only one tour and it’s at 11.30am on Saturday. Linenhall Library is running tours at 11am and 2pm on Saturday, and have a children’s story reading event at 11.30am in the Kid’s corner.

Any number of churches are open ... though sadly many are not welcoming visitors on Sunday. The oldest church in Belfast is 1st Presbyterian Church on Rosemary Street. The most unusual church is probably Sinclair Seaman’s in Corporation Square (just next door to Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office which is also open) complete with its pulpit in the shape of the prow of a ship and lifeboat-shaped collection boxes. Open for only 15 years or so, St Brigid’s Church on Derryvolgie Avenue is beautiful inside. The Antiochian Orthodox Church & Icon Exhibition (Cliftonville/Antrim Road) is open both days, and you’re welcomed to join the Vespers service on Saturday 6pm-7pm or the services on Sunday at 10am and noon. The distinctive First Church of Christ, Scientist (University Avenue/Rugby Road) designed by Clough Williams Ellis, the architect behind Portmerion (the backdrop of the original Prisoner series) is open on Saturday.

The Lock Keeper’s Cottage (beside the well known Lock Keeper’s Inn café) is running short tours of the restored building. I’ve always fancied a wander around Freemason’s Hall (19 Arthur Street, beside the Squiggle – they even have a website). BBC Broadcasting House is open, though you’ll need to book the hourly tours by phone. Stormont Castle is open, along with Parliament Buildings. Guided tours are available on both days. Vehicle access via the Massey Avenue gate only.

You can pick up a family-friendly Architectural Treasure Hunt from PLACE or the Belfast Welcome Centre which will take you through the City Hall amongst other buildings in the city centre.

Update - some photos and reflections from some of the Belfast buildings participating.

Lisburn readers may want to know that there will be tours of restored Castle Gardens on Saturday (11am and 3pm) and Sunday (3pm only). Across the road, Castle House – former home of Sir Richard Wallace and now part of the “Tech” – is open on Saturday. The Hat Shop (8 Bridge Street) was rescued from ruin and restored with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund (amongst others). It’s open on Saturday (9.30am-5pm). Lisburn Orange Hall (on Railway Street) is open on Saturday if you ever wanted a peek at what happens inside.

Town City churches opening their doors on Saturday between 10am and 4pm include St Patricks Church (Chapel Hill), Christian Workers’ Union (Market Street, beside McCalls), First Lisburn Presbyterian and Railway Street Presbyterian.

Friends Meeting House in Hillsborough’s Park Street is open on Saturday. Crumlin’s Gartree Parish Church and The Balance House (2 miles outside Glenavy) are both open on Sunday afternoon. St Patrick’s Church at Drumbeg (on the bad corner between Bob Stewarts pub and the entrance to Lady Dixon park) with its unusual Lych Gate and yew trees is open too.

Worth noting that Scrabo Tower just outside Newtownards is open between 1pm and 5pm over the weekend. And most National Trust properties (including Mount Stewart and Castle Ward) hare open free of charge on Saturday.

The timings of open days seem to be staggered across different regions, so outside Northern Ireland some areas were open in August, while some are still to come. To find out what is (or was) happening in your area, click for Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, London or find out the dates across Europe.

Weekend events - European Heritage Open Days, Proms in the Park, and Creation - something for everyone!

Quick reminder that this weekend sees the annual European Heritage Open Days with 260 venues across Northern Ireland opening up their doors for the public to come in and peer around.

Saturday night finds Proms in the Park coming from Hillsborough Castle - a venue not participating in the open day scheme. If you have a ticket, don’t forget that the free park and ride system will be in operation from Lisburn's Leisureplex Centre at 4.30pm and M&S and B&Q car parks at Sprucefiled at 5.30pm, with shuttle buses circling until midnight.

Alternatively from 7.30pm you can hear the concert live on Radio Ulster featuring James Galway’s fluting alongside Rebekah Coffey and Peter Corry’s singing, as well as the Ulster Orchestra and 1st Old Boys Silver Band. It’s also live on BBC Four and available via the Red Button if you have cable or satellite, starting at 8pm.

The Green Living Fair will be at WWT's Castle Espie Wetland Centre just outside Comber between 10.30am and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. There will be all manner of indoor and outdoor entertainment: paper making, elk building, seed planting, walks, talks and face painting.

(Failing to avoid the temptation to write "And from green living to good living ...")

The "Creation trailer" was parked at the top of Lisburn’s Bow Street last Saturday, a reminder that Free Presbyterian Churches in Lisburn and Hillsborough are teaming up with Answers in Genesis for Creation Weekend events. There may or may not be photo opportunities with local political representatives!

2009 European Heritage Open Days - Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September

Update - See more recent post for information about 2011 Open Days

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency's brochure and website lists over 260 venues to visit, so I'm only going to pick out a few of the possibilities.

Belfast

With it's nautical theme and "prow" pulpit, Sinclair Seaman's Presbyterian Church on Corporation Street is well worth a visit. Open Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm.

The Grand Opera House have tours (on the hour) from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 13 September.

The recently restored "pink" St Malachy's Church (24 Alfred Street) is open on Saturday between 10.30am and 4.30pm, and Sunday 1.30pm-6pm,. Organised tours at 2pm both days around the magnificent Tudor Gothic church.

Campbell College at the top of the Belmont Road is open on Saturday between 10am and 1pm.

One of the new venues this year is the little-known Antiochian Orthodox Church and Icon Exhibition (on the corner of Cliftonville and the Antrim Road). Open Saturday (10am-8pm with Vespers Service 6pm-7pm) and Sunday (10am-6pm with services at 10am and noon).

The School of Music has recently moved out, but the scene of many a nervous music examination in their old listed building (can you believe it's listed) at 99 Donegall Pass will be open on Saturday 9am-noon. Cancel that, it's not opening!

Stormont Castle and Parliament Buildings (often mistaken for the castle) will both be open. Lunches in Parliament Buildings can be pre-booked by phoning 028 9052 1041. Castle opens Sat/Sun 10am-4pm. Parliament Buildings opens Sat/Sun 10am-3pm. Vehicular access is promised by the Massey avenue entrance.

As well as the buildings there are also treasure hunts and organised tours.

You can pick up the instructions for a child-friendly self-guiding Architectural Treasure Hunt from PLACE (40 Fountain Street) or Belfast Welcome Centre (Donegall Place).

There's a Bus Tour of Belfast's Architectural Heritage leaving PLACE (40 Fountain Street) at 2.30 on Friday 11 September, calling in - amongst others - at Queen's Quarter, St Peter's, Clifton House, St Anne's, the Harbour Commissioners and Stormont. Contact PLACE on 028 9023 2524 for details.

Or what a about an hour-long walking tour looking at Hidden History - The Past Under Belfast's Streets. Leaving the front gates of the City Hall at 11am and 2pm on Sunday 13 September.

Lisburn area (Belfast's bedroom!)

Not too much open in Lisburn, but interesting venues include:

Castle House - the imposing red mansion to the left of Lisburn Tech (South Eastern Regional College) on Castle Street - was the private residence of Richard Wallace. Open Sat/Sun noon-4pm.

CWS Stained Glass Studio will be running demonstrations between 10am and noon on both Saturday and Sunday. You'll find them in their new premises in Knockmore Industrial Estate (Unit C2, 9 Ferguson Drive).

You'll find all the details on the NIEA website. Similar programmes run right throughout Europe - so check out the Republic of Ireland website and the England/Scotland/Wales venues too.

Unfortunately, there's an error on the NIEA website so the search by county links don't work!

2008 European Heritage Open Days - Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th

Next weekend marks the annual European Heritage Open Days when the doors are flung open to normally private buildings. The Environment & Heritage Service Northern Ireland Environment Agency helps coordinate the free public access to the local buildings of interest.

The 116 page booklet advertising the Open Days is thick and full of interesting sites to visit. Online advertising is limited to a PDF of the full programme (don’t ask why the page numbers in the PDF don’t quite match the printed booklets!) or extracts covering Belfast, Co Antrim, Co Armagh, Co Down, Co Fermanagh, Co Londonderry and Co Tyrone. Note that many buildings are only open on Saturday. Strangely some churches are only showing as open on Saturday but not on Saturday afternoon!

Some sites and activities in and around Belfast that caught my eye include:

Churches

• The oldest church in Belfast with its elliptical design is 1st Presbyterian in Rosemary Street, open Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm (with the Sunday morning service at 10.30am).
• Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian Church in Corporation Square has a pulpit like the prow of a ship, and collection boxes like lifeboats. Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
• The Moravian Church on University Road has an exhibition, refreshments and is offering tours around its distinctive Gothic structure. Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
• Although open most of the week anyway, check out another Gothic church. St Peter’s Cathedral (St Peter’s Square) with its Scrabo sandstone and twin spires is open on Saturday 8am-7pm and Sunday noon-6.30pm.

Others ...

• You can pick up a booklet detailing an Architectural Treasure Hunt around central Belfast from PLACE in Fountain Square or (on the other side in) the Belfast Welcome Centre in Donegall Place.
• Freemason’s Hall, 19 Arthur Square was built by Sir Charles Lanyon. Tours on the hour on Saturday 10am-4pm.
• There’s a one hour boat trip departing from the Big Fish beside the Lagan Lookout that takes in the Harland and Wolff ship yard and all things Titanic. Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and 3.30pm, but booking essential (see brochure for details).
• There will be hourly tours around Parliament Buildings up at Stormont on Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm. Best to contact them in advance (028) 9052 8400.
• Along with an exhibition, there will be living history shows in the Lock Keeper’s Cottage between Stranmillis and Shaw’s Bridge on the hour between noon and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. A guided walk leave’s Shaw’s Bridge at 11am on Saturday.
• Stranmillis University College and its grounds are opening up for the first time on Saturday and Sunday 2pm-4pm.
• You can find out about the preservation of NI’s archive heritage at The Public Records Office down Balmoral Avenue. They are running tours on the hour on Saturday between 10am and 1.30pm.
• Crumlin Road Goal is looking for new inmates for their hourly tours between 10am and 4.45pm on Saturday and Sunday. You need to book in advance through the Belfast Welcome Centre (see brochure for more details).
• And finally, a bus tour of lower North Belfast heritage sites is being organised on Saturday, leaving from Castle Place, and guided by young people from the area. (See brochure for booking details.)

The phrase used to describe the bus tour could apply to the whole 2008 European Heritage Open Days events:

“Where history is given a new lease of life through the eyes of young people and the past is used to ask questions about the future.”