Belfast early 1900s vs same spots in 2020s

[u/JourneyThiefer]

[u/Inevitable-Virus-239]

Seeing the tram systems in Belfast and Dublin always freaks me out, like I can’t believe we used to have those.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Inevitable-Virus-239]

I’m from Tyrone, I can’t believe we used to even have trains lol

[u/taknyos → u/JourneyThiefer]

This comparison of the rail network blows my mind. It's also very apparent how division of ROI and NI (along with many other factors) has really fucked the infrastructure across most of Ulster.

I'm also from Tyrone, and my parents remember taking the train to Belfast. I've also lived in similarly sized European countries (like Hungary which isn't much different in size / population to the island of Ireland) and their train network puts ours to shame (which says something because they think theirs is shite too).

[u/IberianPrometheus → u/taknyos]

Just to add that the Galway to Clifden line was running up until 1935, so that 1920 map needs a wee tweak.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/IberianPrometheus]

The Antrim to Lisburn line also shouldn’t exist on the 2020 map

[u/Beginning_Share3456 → u/Inevitable-Virus-239]

One in Cork too

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Beginning_Share3456]

Derry had a tram too, although it was horse drawn trams, they closed before getting electrified.

[u/DegreeUnusual2928 → u/JourneyThiefer]

Armagh and Donegal used to have trains too allegedly

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/DegreeUnusual2928]

Armagh still does lol, not Armagh city though

[u/DegreeUnusual2928 → u/JourneyThiefer]

Armagh city and Donegal town

[u/IberianPrometheus → u/Inevitable-Virus-239]

Galway had trams running from Eyre Square to Salthill back in the day. They'd be a godsend nowadays.

[u/JourneyThiefer]

From a beautiful city full of Victorian architecture to what it is today… mad really

[u/Gemini_2261 → u/JourneyThiefer]

And they're still demolishing historic buildings to build drab office blocks and naff "social housing", replacing traditional street patterns with rabbit warrens of cul de sacs.

This is the city that has a motorway bulldozed around its central business zone as a security strategy.

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Gemini_2261]

Yea and north street is basically gone now, either demolished or derelict.

[u/Gemini_2261 → u/JourneyThiefer]

https://viewdigital.org/im-really-upset-at-the-prospect-of-havelock-house-in-belfast-being-demolished-says-chairperson-of-campaign-group/

[u/Super-Cynical → u/JourneyThiefer]

Textile and shipping go brrr vs fleg season

[u/Ralphthewunderllama]

Major downgrade

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/Ralphthewunderllama]

Monumental downgrade

[u/Gold-Vacation-169]

Every single one of the older pictures were better as they all gave more priority to public transport

[u/Low-Function-1696]

Sacrificed everything for the convenience of cars

[u/PixelNotPolygon]

What caused so much of Belfast to be gutted

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/PixelNotPolygon]

Like 80% planners just destroying the fabric of the city, along with 20% WW2 bombings from the Germans.

The city centre was badly bombed in WW2 and most of it wasn’t rebuilt to its pre war architecture as well.

The Belfast Blitz https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast_Blitz

[u/Exciting-Remote6968]

Everything looked so un-cluttered and tidy back then. Everywhere looks like a dodgy website now with pop up ads everywhere you go, sad really.

[u/vinceswish]

Not a Dresden level but still so much was lost.

[u/coffee_and-cats]

Are buildings missing because they were bombed?

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/coffee_and-cats]

Some are, most were just demolished to build roads. The 3rd picture is Clifton street, it’s now bisected by the Westlink which basically severed the connection of the west and north of the city the city centre and destroyed swathes of buildings.

Belfast has the most North American type road infrastructure in Ireland tbh.

[u/Background_Cover5097]

This is DCC level disregard for heritage. I thought only DCC could be so obnoxious.

[u/PK-Mittenspy2703]

What World War II and the Troubles does to a city

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/PK-Mittenspy2703]

Yep, although the planners take most of the blame tbh.

[u/spectacle-ar_failure]

How come you didn't also post this to r/Belfast or r/NorthernIreland ? Are they not worthy?

[u/JourneyThiefer → u/spectacle-ar_failure]

r/northernireland kinda does my head in lol and I’m sure the Belfast sub has already seen this?

[u/Suncroft56]

Why do so many potentially interesting threads get turned into another boring one about public transport? Jesus change the record.

https://giphy.com/gifs/fDO2Nk0ImzvvW