Over the period of the Decade of Anniversaries, Belfast City Council has developed a programme that each year emphasises aspects that marks events of that particular year that shaped Northern Ireland and Ireland a century ago.

2012 saw an emphasis on the Ulster Covenant and home rule along with the development of a travelling exhibition which marks key events in Belfast from 1912 to 1914. 2013 is emphasising the rise of the labour and suffragette movements and the role of the trade unions.

Belfast City Council’s approach consists of a series of lectures, exhibitions, music, and screenings of films including examples such as:

• Commemoration – a lecture with BBC correspondent

• The characters of the Covenant – Carson, Craig et alia – a lecture

• Shrieking Sisters - a dramatic rehearsed reading based on local archive material on the suffragette movement in NI 

• HERitage tours – Celebrating Belfast women – a bus tour of Belfast identifying key locations and events 

• The Dublin Lockout 1913: in words and music 

• Migration and the making of a city 

• Words for the Workers - Special Literary Lunchtime

• Made in Dagenham – Breakfast Club film screening

• Songs from the Mills and Factories – music from the workers

What worked well and what, if anything, didn't?

The wide range of approaches (lectures, exhibitions, music, drama, film, etc.) ensures that a diverse group of participants will find something of interest.

Having a different theme each year dependent upon that year’s anniversaries allows for events to be both wide-ranging and joined up at the same time, creating momentum and energy that fuels future years.

Further Information

Belfast City Council Good Relations Unit on 028 9027 0663 or at http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/goodrelations/decades-centenaries.asp.