Remembering Our Past: Workhouse Burial Ground on Donegall Road Gets Permanent Memorial

A significant piece of local history has recently been brought to light and honoured with a permanent memorial on Donegall Road. A new plaque now marks the hidden burial ground where over 10,000 men, women, and children from the former Belfast Workhouse were laid to rest in unmarked graves.

The Belfast Workhouse, which first opened its doors in 1841, played a central role in the lives of many city residents during difficult times. When local cemeteries became full, a designated burial space was established within the workhouse grounds. Today, a small but vital section of the original workhouse wall and a gatepost still stands on Donegall Road, providing the perfect location for this new, poignant memorial.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, has been a strong advocate for this memorial. Speaking at the unveiling, she emphasised that the plaque is "a long-overdue tribute to the thousands who were laid to rest here. For too long, this significant chapter of our city’s history remained hidden, but now those who suffered within the walls of the workhouse are finally remembered with the dignity they deserve. By marking this site, we are honouring a neglected part of Belfast's past and providing a respectful, permanent, and visible tribute to the dead."

Dr Robyn Atcheson, a social historian and history communicator from Queen’s University Belfast, also campaigned for the memorial's installation. She highlighted the profound connection, stating, "The history of the Belfast workhouse is the history of the city itself." Dr Atcheson noted that the memorial acknowledges "the working poor, the sick, and the hungry who passed through the workhouse, as well as those who died as a result of epidemics and whose families could not afford a grave. Crucially, this memorial also marks the last remaining Famine grave in Belfast."

This important new memorial plaque and the remaining gatepost are situated on Donegall Road, specifically between numbers 263 and 265 (BT12 5NB). It offers a moment for reflection and connection to our shared heritage.