Follow Our Ireland Road Trip - Day 4

Belfast, Boxties, Big Fish, Big Clocks, Coffee, and Cathedrals.

Nov 18, 2025

12 Days in August 2024

Day 4

Hey, y’all! We are reliving the memories from our trip just over a year ago. If you’re finding this article, we highly recommend you read Follow Our Ireland Road Trip blog through Day 3 first to get caught up.

We were a bit sad to leave our Air B&B, but it was time to move on to the next leg of the trip. Belfast was not what we had initially anticipated-we were not expecting to still feel the remnants of the war.

Parking was a bit of a challenge in Belfast, so it is a good idea to be prepared for that. Do not take any chances on spots that are marked, because you will come back to a ticket. (We did not have this experience; several locals were very kind to advise us.)


Day 4 overview:

•  Coffee & Chai Latte at Established Coffee 
•  Tour the Belfast Cathedral 
•  Experience a boxty lunch at Holohans 
•  Visit the Big Fish
•  Explore City Hall
•  View Albert Clock

 
OK, let’s dive in!

Established Coffee 

Admittedly, we had a little challenge parking here, however, you can just round the block and then park along the side. The coffee (Joy) and chai lattes (the rest of us) were the perfect start to the day. We sat at a table for 4 and took in the camaraderie around us-especially at the “community table” that was situated in the center of the shop. It was so nice to see so many people gathered talking and engaging with each other!

It is located at 54 Hill Street.

Belfast Cathedral

This cathedral was consecrated in 1776 and originally called St. Anne’s, after the mother of the Virgin Mary. It was so peaceful, full of amazing history and art.

It was easy to find and beautiful to explore. Honestly, it is the perfect place to pause, reflect and take a few moments to pray before leaving.

It is located on Donegall Street.

Holohans

We really had no concept of a boxty but knew it was something we wanted to try! We had a fabulous time here. The wait staff was so fun and chatty. We tasted local whiskey, then made our selections. Alex got the beef boxty, Mikey the seafood and MO and Joy got the chicken and mushroom. OK, so they did not disappoint. We all shared, tasted and really enjoyed the boxty!

What is a boxty? Well, the outside is like a potato pancake that kind of looks like a tortilla that you make a quesadilla from. The inside is a filling of choice and then the pancake is folded over to cover the filling.

We topped off the meal with a sticky toffee pudding-yummy!!! 

Location: 43 University Road.

Big Fish

This was a quirky attraction that we definitely sought out. Turns out, it is a 32-foot salmon. It was commissioned in 1999 to celebrate the regeneration of the River Lagan and the historic importance of the site.  It was created by John Kindness, and the most interesting thing about this fish is its beautiful blue scales, which are made up of ceramic tiles describing different scenes that tell the history of Belfast.

We are not going to lie, it was a popular attraction and a beautiful area to walk. We had a lot of fun meeting some other visitors and taking pictures.

Location: Donegall Quay

City Hall

For whatever reason, MO and her family have taken to visiting government buildings on a variety of road trips over the years. In that spirit, we visited the imposing City Hall, which many people were attracted to because of the large letters on the lawn that spell out BELFAST.

Unfortunately, we were not able to explore much of the building on the visit. We're not sure if that is the norm or if there was extra security on this particular day.

It opened in August of 1906 and is quite grand. There are many stained-glass windows and statues to admire throughout the building.

It is located in the heart of the city.

Albert Clock

Let’s get historical.

The Albert Memorial Clock was completed in 1869 and is one of the best-known landmarks of Belfast. It was built as a memorial to Queen Victoria's late husband, Prince Albert. The sandstone memorial was constructed between 1865 and 1869 by Fitzpatrick Brothers builders and stands 113 feet tall in a mix of French and Italian Gothic styles. The base of the tower features flying buttresses with heraldic lions. A statue of the Prince in the robes of a Knight of the Garter stands on the western side of the tower. A two-ton bell is housed in the tower. The clock was made by Francis Moore of High Street, Belfast.

There are several references to this being the city’s own “leaning tower”.

Location: 17 Queen’s Square

Belfast 

Belfast was a pretty city, not very touristy, somewhat untouched. We didn't find it particularly friendly, but not unfriendly. It had a vibe to it though. I'd describe it as a city that had a chip on it's shoulder. Honestly, with all it's been thru, we understood. We enjoyed walking thru and seeing more of an untouched, real city.