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Belfast Rebellion Tour: Discover 1798 History
4.9
12 Ratings
Belfast
Explore Belfast’s 1798 Rebellion on a captivating walking tour. Uncover hidden stories and historic sites that shaped Ireland’s quest for equality.
Explore Belfast’s 1798 Rebellion on a captivating walking tour. Uncover hidden stories and historic sites that shaped Ireland’s quest for equality.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- City Hall - The tour will commence with an overview of the events leading to the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798.
- The Linen Hall - Explore the library’s history and learn about its most notorious librarian, the United Irishman, Thomas Russell.
- St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church - Understand the impact of the penal laws on Ireland’s…
- City Hall - The tour will commence with an overview of the events leading to the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798.
- The Linen Hall - Explore the library’s history and learn about its most notorious librarian, the United Irishman, Thomas Russell.
- St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church - Understand the impact of the penal laws on Ireland’s Catholics and the establishment of the chapel in the late 1700s.
- Kelly’s Cellars - A historic pub and clandestine meeting spot for the United Irishmen as they planned their uprising.
- First Presbyterian Church - Discover how Presbyterians became prosperous merchants in Belfast and learn about the church’s most renowned members.
- Assembly Rooms Belfast - Learn about significant meetings held here, including the court martial of Henry Joy McCracken and the unsuccessful proposal for a Belfast slave ship company.
- Parish Church of St George, Belfast - The site of Belfast’s first church, which also marks the origin of the city’s name.
- Joy’s Entry - Uncover the Joy family’s impact on Belfast and how these historic Entries in the city’s oldest area have transformed into an outdoor art gallery.
- City Hall - Conclude the tour at the statue of Mary Ann McCracken, an abolitionist, educator, and United Irishwoman.
What's Included
- Vox whisper set for clear guide communication
- Vox whisper set for clear guide communication
What's Not Included
- Gratuities for your guide (optional)
- Gratuities for your guide (optional)
Additional Information
“1798 – A Belfast Rebellion” is a 2 ½ hour guided walking tour in the city center, exploring Georgian Belfast and the visionaries who aspired for a brighter future.
The tour begins and concludes at the gates of City Hall, narrating the story of the United Irishmen’s inception and development in Belfast, leading up to the 1798 Rebellion and its subsequent…
“1798 – A Belfast Rebellion” is a 2 ½ hour guided walking tour in the city center, exploring Georgian Belfast and the visionaries who aspired for a brighter future.
The tour begins and concludes at the gates of City Hall, narrating the story of the United Irishmen’s inception and development in Belfast, leading up to the 1798 Rebellion and its subsequent suppression. Participants will be guided through significant historical sites that still exist today and introduced to the key figures who ignited the Rebellion.
Attendees will gain insight into the lives of early Belfast Presbyterians, who were prosperous merchants yet lacked political power, and learn about their alliance with Irish Catholics in pursuit of a more equitable society for all on the island.
Join the tour to discover how these enlightened individuals sparked a movement that set Ireland ablaze.
Location
Belfast City Hall
Donegall Square North
We meet outside the front gates of City Hall, on Donegall Square North. Your guide will be wearing a blck jacket with the DC Tours logo on the left breast.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(12 Ratings)
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205dermotm
Aug 16, 2025
An extraordinary walk through Belfast city centre. - To borrow words from Seamus Heaney: “Not to take this tour is to miss the opportunity of understanding what life in this country has meant and could mean in a better future."
This is a Belfast story with global reach. It is a potent cocktail of the French Revolution and the American Revolution, with a heady dash of Irish history.
With expert knowledge and humour, Colin brings to life the characters, buildings, and politics that have been deliberately understated and hidden for over 200 years.
You will learn of Presbyterian radicals, feminist pioneers, revolutionary librarians and eavesdropping bar-maids.
This is an extraordinary walk through Belfast city centre, carrying hope for an extraordinary future and the end of all sectarianism. Or at the very least 'something better than we have grown used to'.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janet
Aug 4, 2025
1798 Rebellion - An excellent tour which whetted our appetite to know more about this era. Our guide Colin is very knowledgeable about this episode in history and his humour and engaging manner made the tour very enjoyable. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lynnebg887us
Aug 2, 2025
1798 United Irishmen Rebellion Belfast - A truly fantastic walking tour, guided by Colin who's passion and knowledge of all things about the United Irishmen's Rebellion was totally inspirational! What a great story-teller, he brought the main characters to life, and explained the significance of that era to modern Ireland. Very well worth every penny.
Lynne B
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P5758iqmollyb
Aug 2, 2025
Brilliant Tour - This walking tour on the 1798 Rebellion was fantastic. Colin was an incredible guide – full of knowledge, a brilliant storyteller and good craic. He brought the history to life and made every stop engaging. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Irish history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nisteve
Jul 20, 2025
DC's 1798 walking tour - I thoroughly enjoyed this. Really interesting, very well paced and delivered by Colin, lots of relevant sites visited around the city and all questions answered - I learned a lot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C9252eckarenh
Jun 28, 2025
Belfast 1798 Rebellion - As someone who grew up in Belfast, I was astonished how much I learned about the history of the city on the 1798 Rebellion tour with DC tours. All the history, the people, the politics brought to life by Colin who navigated us through a fascinating period, vividly illustrated by visits to lots of buildings and places and illustrated with pictures, maps, and stories. A Tour de Force! Thank you Colin
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W8845zmjackieg
Jun 27, 2025
So good I did it it twice! - I had already done this tour late last year and it was so good. So when a friend from Glasgow came to stay, I had to take her on the same tour. I was blown away the first time with Colin's knowledge and expertise on the subject, I thought it could not be bettered. But Colin surpassed himself. It was even more amazing with further insights on the main players. The whole tour group were entranced with his stories of Mary Anne McCracken, her brothers Henry Joy and William, her possible lover "The Man from Nowhere" Thomas Russell, Wolfe Tone, William Drennan, Jemmy Hope, Belle Martin and other members of The Muddlers Club. So much I cannot fit it in. This tour should be mandatory for all!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jbw639
Jun 21, 2025
1798 Tour Provides an Even Deeper Historical Perspective on the City and Northern Ireland - Belfast has such a deep history, and I was so glad to see this new tour offered by DC Tours. I have enjoyed their tours before, and today’s 1798 tour was just as brilliant. Colin’s in-depth knowledge about the period shines through, and we got to envision a different era in the history of the city. The pace was very appropriate and the walking was quite easy. I enjoyed hearing about the United Irishmen movement and the 1798 Rebellion, but also about the personalities of the main “characters.” I also appreciated the effort to highlight the contributions of women to Belfast at the time (sadly, much of that history has been lost). I am someone that knows a good deal of Belfast’s history, but I learned quite a bit of new details thanks to Colin’s insight.
Even if you have more interest in the recent history of Belfast and Northern Ireland, I would *highly* recommend the 1798 tour to give you deeper context and understanding of the complex political and cultural history of the island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Barneygribbin1
Jun 7, 2025
A history buff will love this. - If you studying history or are interested in the history of the United Irish Men, this is the tour for you.
Full of well researched details and stories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacation44578431484
Jun 7, 2025
Remembering 1798 in Belfast - Thanks to Colin my knowledgeable guide. This explored a fairly unknown part of Belfast's progressive history when in 1798 many Presbyterians rose up in rebellion against English rule in pursuit of civil and religious liberty.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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