Want to travel abroad? Do you love European and Celtic culture? Want to see the Irish homelands up close? Belfast is your destination of choice.

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland. The city is an active port city in the United Kingdom. Known for being the construction site of the R.M.S. Titanic in 1911 and 1912, Belfast has grown to be a textile and shipping industrial city.

Belfast is divided into several areas, called quarters. These seven quarters, or neighborhoods, are Cathedral Quarter, Gaeltacht Quarter, Linen Quarter, Market Quarter, Queen’s Quarter, Titanic Quarter, and Smithfield Market and Library Quarter. This article will be describing about the Cathedral Quarter, the Gaeltacht Quarter, and the Linen Quarter.

First, the Cathedral Quarter is an area which is in development. Cathedral Quarter is named after St. Anne’s Cathedral or Belfast Cathedral, a Protestant cathedral. The quarter is for trade and services. But, it is not developed for tourism. One festival which occurs in the Cathedral Quarter is the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Starting in 2000, the event draws more than 60,000 people per year. There are over 150 events in the festival. In 2012, the festival will take place from April 28th to May 8th.

Second, the Gaeltacht Quarter is where the Irish language, culture, and customs are kept alive. The Féile an Phobail holds events throughout the year at the Gaeltact Quarter, promoting Irish culture. Comedians, singers, and speakers entertain the audience. In addition, the Féile an Phobail holds debates and discussions on current policy issues. The festival was established in 1988 during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Because of bad press by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the community wanted to redefine its image. In August 1988, the first Féile an Phobail was held. Other events which Féile an Phobail sponsors are Féile an Earraigh (Spring Festival), Draíocht (children’s festival), and Laugh at the Bank (the first comedy festival in Belfast). If you are an Irish buff or have Irish roots and want to learn about your heritage, go to Gaeltacht Quarter for research.

Third, Linen Quarter is where the linen factories once stood. Men and mostly women worked in these factories during World Wars I and II for long hard hours and returned with little pay. Children as young as nine worked in these factories as well. Today, you can see the buildings where linen industry once was active. If you are an architectural fan, you will enjoy seeing the various buildings’ designs. The Linen Hall Library, Belfast’s oldest library, is located in Linen Quarter.

Cathedral Quarter, Gaeltact Quarter, and Linen Quarter are just a few areas of Belfast to visit. Be sure to check out the other areas of Belfast and book a Belfast B&B today!