‘They all had names’ – Hidden Belfast famine burial ground finally marked after decades forgotten

Lord Mayor of Belfast City Council, Councillor Tracy Kelly pictured with social historian and history communicator Robyn Atcheson as they unveil a memorial plaque for over 10,000 people from the former Belfast Workhouse on the Donegall Road who were buried on the site in unmarked graves.

More than 10,000 people buried in unmarked graves beside one of Belfast’s busiest roads have finally been formally recognised, as a permanent memorial plaque was unveiled at the site of the former Belfast Workhouse burial ground.

The small stretch of wall and gatepost on Donegall Road hides one of the city’s most overlooked historical sites — a burial ground linked to poverty, disease, hunger and the devastating human toll of the Great Famine.

For generations, thousands of men, women and children who died in the Belfast Workhouse were buried there without memorial or marker. Now, following campaigning efforts and historical research, the site has been publicly acknowledged with a permanent plaque installed between 263 and 265 Donegall Road.

A forgotten part of Belfast’s history brought into public view

The Belfast Workhouse opened in 1841 during a period of extreme poverty and hardship across Ireland. As existing cemeteries reached capacity, part of the workhouse grounds was designated as a burial space.

Historians believe more than 10,000 people were buried there over time, many of them among Belfast’s poorest residents, famine victims, sick patients and people whose families could not afford private graves.

Despite the scale of the burial ground, little physical evidence remained visible to the public beyond a surviving section of wall and gatepost on Donegall Road.

The newly installed memorial plaque has now transformed the location into an identifiable site of remembrance and historical significance.

Lord Mayor says memorial is “long overdue”

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, who campaigned for the plaque to be erected, described the memorial as an important act of recognition for those buried there.

She said:

“This memorial is a long-overdue tribute to the thousands of men, women, and children who were laid to rest here in unmarked graves.

“For too long, this significant chapter of our city’s history remained hidden, but today we ensure that those who suffered within the walls of the workhouse are finally remembered with the dignity they deserve.

“By marking this site, we are not only honouring this neglected part of Belfast’s history and providing a respectful, permanent, and visible tribute to the dead.”

The memorial is expected to become an important historical marker in Belfast, particularly as public interest continues to grow around previously overlooked famine-era and workhouse sites across Ireland.

Historian highlights final remaining famine grave in Belfast

Dr Robyn Atcheson, a social historian and history communicator based at Queen’s University Belfast, also supported calls for a memorial at the site.

She described the burial ground as deeply connected to the wider story of Belfast itself.

“The history of the Belfast workhouse is the history of the city itself,” she said.

“The tens of thousands of people buried in this burial ground will finally have their resting place marked and I am honoured to have played a part in that.

“With this memorial, we are acknowledging 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.

“This memorial is also marking the last remaining Famine grave in Belfast. I’d like to thank the Council for their support in this memorial. The Belfast workhouse still has many stories to tell.”

Her comments underline the wider historical importance of the site beyond Belfast itself, connecting it directly to Ireland’s famine history and the social conditions faced by many families in the 19th century.

A visible reminder beside one of Belfast’s busiest routes

The memorial plaque is mounted on the surviving gatepost and wall section on Donegall Road, close to where thousands were buried during the workhouse era.

Although many people pass the location daily, few may have realised the historical significance hidden behind the remaining brickwork.

The installation now creates a permanent public reminder of a chapter of Belfast history that campaigners say should never have remained invisible for so long.

The gatepost and memorial plaque are located between 263 and 265 Donegall Road, Belfast, BT12 5NB.