Local History and Places of Interest.

Parkview Lodge is to be found at the foot of the historic CaveHill Mountain and nestling in the shadow of Belfast Castle.

The mountain was the site of MacArts fort in older times and there are three prehistoric caves found near to the summit.In 1798 THEOBALD WOLFE TONE and the Antrim branch of the United Irish Men swore their oath to free Ireland from British tyranny on the site of macArts fort.

On the summit of the mountain you can see the whole of belfast ,extending to the ards penninsula and you can follow the course of the River Lagan as far as Lisburn.an interesting feature on the mountain is reputed to be the resemblance of the great Napaoleon Bonaparte.when viewed from the side the mountain does indeed look like a silouhette of the French emperor.

At Clifton Street Cemetery here in north belfast is sited the family grave of Henry Joy McCracken a United Irishman hung by the British at Cornmarket in Belfast city centre for his part in the Rebellion of 1798.A plaque marks the scaffold site .frantic efforts were made to revive this rebel leader when he was cut down from the gallows but to no avail!

there are also reputed to be found there the graves from BLACK 47`IN GAELIC an gorta mor the great death.FAMINE GRAVES from IRELANDS TRAGIC POTATOE BLIGHT of 1847.

Close at hand is the infamous CRUMLIN ROAD JAIL a prison now closed as part of the Belfast Agreement.it housed several hundred political prisoners during its chequered history and was the seen of several daring escapes in the 70`s and 80`s.opposite the jail; is the Court house and between the two was built an underground tunnel to prevent further succesful escapes.there are plans to make one or both into museums reflecting our divided pasts.

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