02/10/2009

Free Tours Mark City Hall Relaunch

As Belfast City Hall's reopening approaches, festive activities organised to celebrate the event will soon be underway too.

"A packed programme of fun is being lined up from 17 October to encourage residents of all ages, from all parts of Belfast, to enjoy ownership of the public building," said a spokeswoman for Belfast City Council.

As part of this initiative, special tours are being organized across the city.

The various Belfast tours will be easier to access because they are being offered free-of-charge during the fortnight of celebrations that will mark the reopening of the building.

Probably the most popular will be the City Hall Tour.

Led by an experienced guide, the tour will last around one hour uncovering the history of the building, while exploring some of its finest features.

It will take place from 5 October until 31 October, three times every day - except on Sunday.

The rest of the free tours - available from 17 October - are varied enough to attract both large numbers of the city's citizens and appeal to visitors as well.

Art followers will be able to tour around exhibitions of galleries in the city centre. Literature lovers will discover more about the city's literary heritage by visiting the favourite haunts of local writers such as Seamus Heaney, John Hewitt, Glenn Patterson and Michael Longley.

And music fans will enjoy a bus journey through the heart of a great rock and roll city, which nurtured performers from Van Morrison to Snow Patrol.

Finally, a special historic tour will be also on offer: a walk to identify what the city was like in the 1900s.

All the events are to showcase the end of a two-year, £11m City Hall refit, and give the iconic building a memorable opening.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Naomi Long, said: "Our aim is to highlight the ethos of public ownership of this wonderful building.

"This is everyone's City Hall and it is hoped that residents from all parts of Belfast will join in the fun throughout the reopening celebrations."

Tickets for the tours and the rest he events can be booked through Belfast Welcome Centre in Donegall Place.

See: Carnival To Mark Revamped City Hall

(CL/BMcC)

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