Bricks and Bone Saws: Hospitals, Philanthropy and Medical Practice in north Belfast

During the 19th and 20th Centuries, north Belfast was at the forefront of keeping Belfast’s citizens healthy. Grand institutions (often funded by local philanthropists) sprang up across the area to cater to the growing population. These hospitals tackled the growing health crisis from over-population and industrialisation. They were also tasked with weathering the city’s worst health crises, such as the various cholera epidemics.
Now, many of these life-saving institutions have vanished, leaving little trace of their vital and life-saving work. This talk looks at the stories behind some of north Belfast’s most prominent institutions, the people who funded them, and the doctors who worked to keep the citizens of Belfast in good health!