St. Joseph’s has been a landmark on Belfast’s docks for many years. Its spire was the last and first sight of home for its seamen as they saw it come into view on their approach to shore.
Hemmed in now by high rise apartments and car parks it was almost derelict.
However, over the last few years emergency repair funding was sourced to save ‘The Chapel on the Quays.’ Deconsecrated, it can’t hold religious services, but it still holds the memories of the generations who passed through its doors.
Since we started repairs, we’ve had a number of offers to ‘develop’ it as investors see its potential.
However, it was built for and by the people of Sailortown, and we hold it in trust for them and the people of Belfast. We want to open its doors as a community hub where the community can meet again on a daily basis.
We have the holes in the roof fixed, evicted the pigeons, installed WiFi, toilets and electric light, there are still some leaks in heavy rain. In the winter months it’s too cold for regular use and we’re told by Health and Safety we need a fire exit - now being installed.
We’re now open for ‘meanwhile use’, run activities for all and raise running costs through venue hire. . We’ve held a number of events, and have a huge list of prospective users, but the way it is now we have to limit capacity.
Sailortown has a new community now and many children living in the area. We run sports and Arts activities for them through small grants, but due to lack of youth workers and statutory neglect, these are limited to twice a week.
There is no alternative green space or play area in Sailortown. Children and their parents have to cross seven sets of pedestrian lights to get to the nearest shop or school. Heavy docks traffic roll through the area as ferries offload cargo.
However, they are imaginative and creative, and local artists have enabled them to make a short Horror film in the ‘haunted church’, as well as a Halloween Maze where they ‘scared a kid so bad, he farted’. They charged a fiver entry to raise money for repairs so they can use the space all the time. They also raised money by selling their games, home-made tattoos and hairsprays at our Sailortown Barra Market.
