By Bernie Bell.

On Tuesday’s ‘Springwatch’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002cty6

Iolo was at the Ulster Museum & Discover Nature Centre in Belfast

https://www.ulstermuseum.org

…which overlooks Friar’s Bush Graveyard, watching and filming the wildlife there.  He commented on how old the graveyard is, and mentioned something about it pre-dating Belfast itself.  I was intrigued, and looked it up ….

https://ulsterhistoricalfoundation.com/portfolio/saving-friars-bush-graveyard

This website mentions a possible Neolithic mound there – so that area could possibly be the origin of what we now call Belfast.

The Friar’s Bush, Belfast

I chose my heading for this piece because of the history of disease and sorrow associated with the graveyard.  Graveyards are associated with sorrow, but mostly  hold the remains of folk who lived out their lives and died in the natural course of  things.  

This graveyard, to me, holds more than its fair share of lives and deaths marked by disease and despair.

And now – it’s full of LIFE of varied kinds – plants, mammals, birds and bugs.

It’s possible to visit Friar’s Bush Graveyard.  To arrange an appointment, contact Bereavement Services Office on 028 9027 0296 or email cemeteries@belfastcity.gov.uk.

Guided tours of Friar’s Bush graveyard are provided by Cairde na Cille. To find out more, go to Cairde na Cille .

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