We’re open Monday to Friday from 10am-4:30pm and EVERY Saturday from 12pm-4pm. Free admission, no booking required.

News

/

News

Book Launch of 'Honouring the Fallen and Serving the Living; The History of the Northern Ireland War Memorial'

On Thursday 16 November 2023, the Northern Ireland War Memorial hosted the launch of Honouring the Fallen and Serving the Living; The History of the Northern Ireland War Memorial, a Northern Ireland War Memorial publication by Michael Burns.

Professor Michael Longely CBE, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Belfast Dr Alan Logan DL, Vice Chair of the NIWM Board Mrs Catherine Champion DL, Author Michael Burns and High Sheriff of Belfast, John Kyle
Professor Michael Longley CBE, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Belfast Dr Alan Logan DL, Vice Chair of the NIWM Board Mrs. Catherine Champion DL, Author Michael Burns and the High Sheriff of Belfast John Kyle

Principle guests in attendance included the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Dr Alan Logan DL; the High Sheriff of Belfast, Mr John Kyle; Irish poet Professor Michael Longley CBE, and Dr Paul Roelle, Colonel, US Air Force (Retired) representing the US Consulate in Belfast. Representatives from organisations that have played an important role in the NIWM’s history also attended; Belfast City Council, the Royal British Legion, the Royal Ulster Rifles Museum, and National Museums Northern Ireland.

Invited guests included individuals who have donated objects and stories to the museum collection, people associated with the Waring Street and Talbot Street buildings, and those who are involved in the museum’s current work as an accredited museum.

Author Michael Burns speaking at the launch
Author Michael Burns speaking at the launch

Founded shortly after the end of the Second World War, the Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) was intended to be a living memorial to the fallen in the First and Second World war. Following an inaugural meeting at Belfast City Hall in July 1948, the offices of the NIWM opened on High Street, Belfast, on 16 November 1948. From three converted tramcars placed on blitzed ground, various fundraising appeals were successfully launched. After almost fifteen years of planning and fundraising, the War Memorial building on Waring Street was opened by HRH, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in October 1963. It was built on blitzed land gifted to the NIWM by Belfast Corporation.

Since then, the organisation has gone through some major changes and developments; surviving the difficult years of the Troubles, shifting its focus to become a Home Front Heritage Centre in the 1990s, and then relocating to Talbot Street to become an Accredited museum in 2013.

This book chronicles the history of the NIWM and celebrates the important contributions made by trustees and council members and organisations such as the Royal British Legion, Belfast City Council (formerly Belfast Corporation) and National Museums Northern Ireland.

As the organisation reflects on the 75th anniversary of the opening of its fundraising offices on High Street, Belfast, on 16 November 1948, it remains committed to commemorating the fallen of both world wars.

Tramcar offices opening on High Street, Belfast, 16 November 1948. Courtesy of Michael Longley.
Tramcar offices opening on High Street, Belfast, 16 November 1948. Courtesy of Michael Longley.

On the night, Vice Chair of the NIWM, Catherine Champion DL thanked all involved in producing the publication, including the book’s author, Michael Burns who is a Research Officer at the NIWM.

Professor Michael Longley CBE
Professor Michael Longley CBE

Invited guest, Professor Michael Longley CBE, reflected on his father as a soldier and as a fundraiser. Major Richard Longley was heavily involved in the NIWM’s early fundraising appeals as Organising Secretary of the War Memorial Building Fund until July 1949. Michael shared his memories of visiting the tramcar offices and of tasting huge slabs of icing which came from a two-tonne cake which was baked to raise money for the War Memorial Building Fund in 1949. This was one of the many inventive and whimsical appeals his father organised to raise funds for the original War Memorial on Waring Street. Michael Longley then read two of his poems, Citation and Ceasefire, both of which were very fitting for the event.

High Sheriff of Belfast, John Kyle
High Sheriff of Belfast, Mr John Kyle

The High Sheriff of Belfast, Mr John Kyle, attended representing Belfast City Council. He commented on how Belfast Corporation had been involved throughout the NIWM’s history, through representation on the NIWM Council and through donating a blitzed site on Waring Street for the original War Memorial.

Author Michael Burns highlighted several new discoveries made while researching and writing the book. He introduced two short films created by UTV in 1963 highlighting the opening of the War Memorial on Waring Street. These were shown thanks courtesy of NI Screen's Digital Film Archive. He also outlined how involved representatives from National Museums Northern Ireland were in the NIWM’s journey to become a Heritage Centre and now an accredited museum.

Vice Lord Lieutenant Dr Alan Logan DL speaking at the event
Vice Lord Lieutenant Dr Alan Logan DL speaking at the event

The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Dr Alan Logan DL, reflected on the innovative and inclusive work of the NIWM today. He thanked past and current trustees and council members for their valuable voluntary contributions.

Honouring the Fallen and Serving the Living Book Cover
Honouring the Fallen and Serving the Living Book Cover

Honouring the Fallen and Serving the Living is available to purchase from the Northern Ireland War Memorial for £10.

You May Also Like

Card image cap
Mapping the Blitz

Find out more about our Mapping the Blitz project in partnership with Queens University Belfast.

Card image cap
The American Red Cross in Northern Ireland during the Second World War

To coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Belfast American Red Cross club’s official dedication in October 1942, the Northern Ireland War Memorial will launch a new book, The American Red Cross in Northern Ireland during the Second World War by historian Clive Moore.

Card image cap
US80 - Flag Donation

In advance of US80, we were pleased to accept the timely donation in December 2021 of a large American flag that was flown from the American Red Cross Club on Chichester Street, Belfast.

Card image cap
Ulster University's Museums, Crisis and Covid-19 Project

Ulster University's Museums, Crisis and Covid-19 project has recently published its final reports with input from the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum.

Card image cap
New Acquisition

The NI War Memorial is very pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Bombs Falling on Belfast, April 16th 1941 by local artist William Conor.

Card image cap
Kids in Museums Takeover Day 2022

We're being taken over!

We're excited to be taking part in Kids in Museums annual Takeover Day 2022.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
Arts Council NI Grant

We are delighted to announce that the NIWM has been awarded a grant from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Arts & Older People Programme.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
NIWM on C2K Newsdesk

Watch our programme all about rationing during the Second World War with C2K Newsdesk.

Card image cap
New Acquisition - Firemen, After the Blitz, Belfast

The NI War Memorial is very pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Firemen, After the Blitz, Belfast by local artist William Conor.

Card image cap
Belfast Blitz Commemorations 2023

In April and May 2023, the Northern Ireland War Memorial marked the anniversaries of the air raids on Northern Ireland with three commemorations. Members of the public were invited to attend to pay their respects and to remember those who were killed as a result of enemy action in April and May 1941.

Card image cap
Saving Sheila the Elephant

On Saturday 22 April 2023, NIWM marked Earth Day with the opening of a new exhibition, Saving Sheila the Elephant; a collection of artworks created by local primary school children in Belfast who have participated in a project funded by #TheWildEscape and supported by the Northern Ireland Museums Council.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
AGM 2023

In June 2023, we hosted our AGM with trustees, council members and invited guests. We reflected on 2022 which was a busy and successful year for the NIWM.


Read on to find out more

Card image cap
Book Launch of 'The American Red Cross in Northern Ireland'

On Thursday 14 September 2023, the Northern Ireland War Memorial hosted the book launch of The American Red Cross in Northern Ireland during the Second World War, a Northern Ireland War Memorial publication by Clive Moore.

On Friday 1 December 2023, the NIWM hosted a second launch of the same title at the Guildhall in Derry/Londonderry.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
NIWM visit to Killymoon Castle

Every year the museum organises an away-day for Trustees and Staff, and this year, Killymoon Castle was the chosen location as it was home to US soldiers from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airbourne Division from 1943-44.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
Five Ways to Wellbeing on World Mental Health Day

This #WorldMentalHealthDay, we've come up with some ways to improve your mental health by following the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
Accreditation

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve maintained Full Accreditation!

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
Armistice 2023

On Friday 10 November 2023, the Northern Ireland War Memorial held a short Act of Remembrance to mark Armistice Day 2023.

Read on to find out more

Card image cap
Belfast Blitz Commemorations 2024

In April and May 2024, the Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) marked the anniversaries of the air raids on Northern Ireland with three commemorations. Members of the public were invited to attend to pay their respects and to remember those who were killed as a result of enemy action in April and May 1941.

Subscribe To Our Mailing List For Updates