Rivers of Belfast, a history - Des O’Reilly

Stranmillis-based geography lecturer Des O’Reilly’s recent book traces the meandering history of the small rivers that flow into the Lagan and Belfast Lough, many of which helped Belfast earn the soubriquet of ‘Linenopolis’ in the nineteenth century. His book is a wide-ranging tome that traces the history of rivers such as the Farset and Blackstaff from the very earliest times to the present. To a layman like myself, I was more interested in tales of how the rivers were utilised during the boom times of the industrial revolution before being culverted and diverted, but had to skim through quite a bit of heavy duty info on alluvial deposits and the like before hitting the gold. It reminded me a bit of a 4th form geography textbook at times, and if nothing else, these passages in the book served to remind me that the passage of time has wiped away all memories of rock strata, but amazingly I still know how an oxbow lake is formed! Having said that, the photographs and diagrams are plentiful, and there is more than enough to hold your attention. Rivers covered include the aforementioned Blackstaff and Farset, the Derriaghy, Colin,Forth, Legoniel, Milewater, Ravernet, Purdysburn, Cregagh, Knock and Connswater rivers as well as the Lagan Navigation. If you think that these waters have been tamed by virtue of their disappearance underground as the city expanded…think again!  Remember 16th August 2008, when the combined force of the Forth and Blackstaff rivers flooded the newly completed Westlink underpass in an amazing forty five minutes. Belfast’s hidden rivers are still making their presence felt today in often dramatic fashion.

Available as a book