Northern Ireland

BELFAST was the city that built the Titanic and the connection between the doomed liner and the Northern Irish capital has always been strong. The news of the tragedy was devastating to the thousands of men who had worked on the ship, their families, and to all the people of Belfast, perhaps none more so than James Lord Pirrie, uncle of Thomas Andrews, the designer of the Titanic and chairman of Harland & Wolff, the famous shipyard where it was built.

PLANS are well advanced for what looks set to become the major antiques fair of Belfast and, if the pre-launch activity is anything to judge by, Antiques and Arts International will be a contender for Ireland’s top fair.