Titanic Memorial Service and More Belfast: Day 7 – Ireland 2014

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15 April 2014

Titanic Memorial Service

After our late-night vigil for those that perished with Titanic, we got some much-needed rest before attending the bigger memorial later that morning. Our group gathered with many others at Belfast City Hall in the Titanic Memorial Garden. The sun was shining and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

As we waited for the ceremony to begin, one of the reunion organizers, Maureen, approached me with a white rose. There were quite a few people around holding them and each had a name tag attached. She asked me if I’d be willing to lay a rose in honor of a man who had died in the sinking and didn’t have any family there to represent him. Of course, I was beyond honored to do so. I took the rose with teary eyes and waited for the ceremony to begin.

Matthew Leonard

The man I was honoring was called Matthew Leonard. He was a third-class steward aboard Titanic. If his body was recovered from the wreckage, it was never identified. I had vowed then that I would research him and get to know him. Sadly, I haven’t spent much time doing that, and I know very little about him. I’d like to change that. What I know is pretty much what you’ll read in the above link (which also includes a photo of Matthew). He was born in Philadelphia to Irish parents and the family returned to Ireland not too long after. He had only started his life on the sea that same year, sometime before Easter. And then his life was over—one among 1,514 that lost their lives that night.

The ceremony was moving and many tears were shed over the tragedy. It always amazes me that even after 102 years, it can feel so close. Just as any other great tragedy or war, the scars run through many generations.

Belfast City Hall

After the ceremony was concluded, our reunion group was invited into Belfast City Hall for refreshments and a private group tour. If you ever get the chance to take a peek inside this great building, do it. It is absolutely breathtaking inside! From the ceilings to the carved furniture, there is an insane amount of detail. We simply don’t build things in such beauty anymore and it’s a wonderful testament to the people who crafted each and every piece—an absolute lost art.

White’s Tavern

The rest of the day was open as a free day, so we decided to head down to White’s Tavern. We mentioned the place in our previous post, but in case you’ve forgotten, White’s Tavern is the oldest tavern in Belfast. It opened in 1630 and the doors have been welcoming guests ever since. The building where White’s is located was granted the first-ever tavern license in Belfast.

What I remember the most about White’s, aside from the amazing food, is the atmosphere. The ceiling is low with exposed beams overhead and some of the walls are exposed brick. A lovely peat fire burns in the open fireplace. The place is lively and cozy all at once. Honestly, it feels like visiting family and walking into their house after a long absence. The food is good, the Guinness is cold, and the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Sunset

Still sleepy from our long night and early morning, we took a much-needed nap back at the hotel. That evening, we got up and dressed and walked back over to the slipways at Titanic Belfast. As the sun sets below the horizon, the outlines of the sister ships blaze into life and I desperately wanted to see that before we left.

We were 2 of 4 people on the slipways that evening, and by the time the sun went down, the two of us were the only ones there. It was strange to have such a big and powerful place all to ourselves. This large expanse of concrete that holds so much meaning, and us, the only people in sight.

We sat in silence as the footprints lit up. The sun slowly faded, the cold began to set in, and we said one more farewell to the great ship.
Cheers,
Lydia and Billy