New Lodge, Belfast facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Lodge, Belfast
Lóiste Nua
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community
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 New Lodge, Belfast
Location in the United Kingdom
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The New Lodge (Irish: An Lóiste Nua) is a community in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is just north of the city centre. Most people living here are Catholic and the area is known for its working class roots.
You'll see many tall apartment buildings, called tower blocks, in the New Lodge. The area also has several colourful murals, mostly along the New Lodge Road. The New Lodge is bordered by Duncairn Gardens, Antrim Road, Clifton Street, and either York Street or North Queen Street. Sometimes, there have been conflicts between republicans and loyalists in North Queen Street and Duncairn Gardens. The New Lodge is also a voting area for the Belfast City Council.
Contents
Exploring the New Lodge's Past
How the Area Grew
The land where the New Lodge now stands was once open farmland. This was back in the 1600s, within the old city walls of Belfast. The name "New Lodge" likely comes from a farm lodge at a place called Solitude. This is now where the Cliftonville F.C. football ground is located.
As Belfast grew rapidly in the 1800s, the New Lodge became a busy inner-city area. Both Protestant and Catholic families lived here. Many workers lived in small, crowded homes near the Lepper Mill and the Gallagher tobacco factory.
Important Buildings and Changes
The area between the New Lodge Road and Duncairn Gardens used to have homes for better-off working families. Duncairn Gardens and Clifton Street were quite fancy until the mid-1900s.
Victoria Barracks was a large British army base in the area. Today, only a few old officers' houses remain. You can also see part of the old barracks wall on North Queen Street. The former army gym is now a community centre called "The Recy."
Impact of World War II
The New Lodge was badly damaged during the Belfast Blitz in 1941. This was when German planes heavily bombed Belfast during World War II. Many streets were destroyed, especially near factories and the army barracks. Burke Street was completely flattened, and everyone living there was killed.
After the war, many people moved out of the New Lodge to new homes in places like Ballymurphy and Glengormley. This started a trend of people moving away from the area. In the 1950s, the army barracks closed. New buildings, including tall tower blocks, were built. Many people from the Sailortown docklands area moved here in the 1960s.
The Troubles and Beyond
The New Lodge saw a lot of conflict during the Troubles. This was a period of violence in Northern Ireland. The area was close to the city centre and had a history of Irish republicanism. It was also surrounded by Loyalist areas.
In the early 1970s, the few remaining Protestants left the area. They were replaced by Catholics who had been forced to leave Loyalist areas of Belfast. The McGurk's Bar bombing happened here in December 1971. The Ulster Volunteer Force later said they were responsible.
The New Lodge was a strong area for the Provisional IRA (Irish Republican Army). Clashes and gun battles between the IRA, the British Army, and loyalist groups happened often. This was especially true in the early 1970s and during events like the 1981 Irish hunger strike. The area was also often attacked by Loyalist groups, especially with drive-by shootings. The corner of New Lodge Road and Antrim Road was known as a very dangerous spot. The last fatal IRA attack before the ceasefire in 1994 happened here in 1992.
Despite the conflict, daily life continued. New and better public housing was built in the 1980s. Even with improvements and the end of fighting in 1994, people continued to move to the suburbs. In recent years, people from countries like Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania have moved to the New Lodge.
Life in the New Lodge Today
Social Conditions and Community
Even though the homes are now generally good quality, the New Lodge still faces some challenges. It is listed as one of the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland, especially in terms of income. However, it is very close to the city centre, with hospitals and schools nearby. This means it has good access to services.
Most people in the New Lodge rent their homes from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or other social landlords. Only a small number own their homes. In 2002, about 40% of 16-year-olds got good GCSE exam results. This was lower than the Northern Ireland average, but better than many similar areas in England. About 28% of 18-year-olds went on to college or university that same year.
Recently, property prices in Belfast have gone up. This has meant that more younger people and those with good qualifications are staying in the New Lodge. They can find affordable homes here that are close to the city centre. The graveyard in Henry Place holds the graves of many important people from Belfast's history, including United Irishman Henry Joy McCracken. The area is also very close to the Mater Hospital and the Cityside (Yorkgate) Shopping Centre.
Local Culture and Fun
Much of the local social life happens around the many pubs in the New Lodge and nearby Docks area. You can often hear live rock, blues, techno, and Irish traditional music.
The New Lodge Festival is a special event. It was started as a positive alternative to the traditional bonfire on Internment Night. The festival includes music, activities for children, sports, and talks about history and culture. It is connected to the West Belfast Festival and the Ardoyne fleadh.
Many local people are very passionate about football. Gaelic football and boxing are also popular. Hugh Russell, a boxer from the area, won a bronze medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He still lives nearby. In 2011, pop star Rihanna even filmed parts of her music video for "We Found Love" in the New Lodge area!
New Lodge in Numbers: 2001 Census
The New Lodge is one of 60 voting areas in Belfast City Council. On April 29, 2001, 5,224 people lived in the New Lodge.
- About 25.7% were under 16 years old.
- About 18.4% were aged 60 or older.
- 46.6% of the people were male, and 53.4% were female.
- 97.3% were from a Catholic background.
- 2.2% were from a Protestant or other Christian background.
You can find more details at the NI Neighbourhood Information Service.
Famous People from New Lodge
Many well-known people have connections to the New Lodge:
- Gerry Fitt, a politician who lived here for many years.
- Sir John Lavery, a famous painter.
- Martin Lynch, a playwright.
- Carál Ní Chuilín, a politician.
- Hugh Russell, the Olympic boxer.
- Eddie Patterson, a footballer and manager.
- Brian Moore, a famous Irish novelist.
