Titanic Belfast reopens and thanks NHS workers
BELFAST’S Lord Mayor, Alderman Frank McCoubrey, gave his seal of approval as Titanic Belfast reopened its doors recently.
He was the first official visitor since it closed on March 18 due to the Covid19 outbreak. At the sneak preview, he experienced Titanic Belfast’s one-way, self-guided themed tour throughout the galleries and SS Nomadic, which throughout August was being enjoyed for free by NHS workers as a thank you for their work during the pandemic.
Commenting on the day, Judith Owens, chief executive of Titanic Belfast, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open our doors again. Welcoming visitors, telling stories and creating experiences is what we do best. For us, home is where the heart is and this has never been more apparent.
“As one of Belfast’s iconic symbols, we are always keen to play our part and reflect the city’s spirit. While everyone in Northern Ireland has done their bit, our NHS staff, from emergency services to healthcare workers, were on the front line dealing with the spread of coronavirus and this is our way of saying thank you to our local heroes for their hard work and bravery.”
Throughout the pandemic, Titanic Belfast was a symbol of Northern Ireland’s spirit and sported a colourful rainbow illumination at night as a display of positivity and hope and lit up blue for Clap for Carers as a gesture of its appreciation to the NHS.
Alderman McCoubrey commented: “Titanic Belfast is synonymous with Belfast, it is an inspiring testament to RMS Titanic and our city. As First Citizen, it was a privilege to be its first official visitor and experience the enhancements it has made this year.”
In addition to its one-way, self-guided themed tour, visitors will be able to experience its award-winning outdoor Discovery Tour, Titanic Foundation’s Out of Stores Exhibition and its new (launched in August) Maritime Mile Treasure Trail.
Kerrie Sweeney, chief executive of Titanic Foundation Limited, the charity that owns the iconic building, explained: “Together with Titanic Belfast, we wanted to offer more for our visitors. That’s why we have opened our archives for the ‘Out of Stores’ Exhibition in Titanic Belfast’s Andrews Gallery for those who want to learn more about the men who built the ship and will be launching our new Maritime Mile Treasure Trail so that local people and visitors can discover the history ingrained in this area while enjoying this expansive outdoor space in the heart of the city.”
For more information go to: titanicbelfast.com