PTQ – What Shall We Give…..
The one thing that makes James Ellson's chest swell with pride when he talks about it during our Best of Belfast tour is the fact that, along with two of his former Methody pals, he edited PTQ in 1988.
Colin Middleton – Belfast’s surrealist painter
There are plenty of us who would say that you need to have a fair level of surrealism about you to live in Belfast. But Colin Middleton, who is the subject of a new exhibition in the Ulster Museum, was once described as Ireland’s Greatest Surrealist, so this show bound to be worth a visit.
We are finalists in the Arival Spotlight Awards!
We are absolutely delighted to be named as finalists in the Tour Innovator category of the Arival Spotlight Awards, our first ever global award category. We are the only finalists representing the UK and Ireland across all five categories.
Sir Charles Brett – the man who recorded Belfast’s built heritage
If you have any interest in Belfast architecture you will have heard of Sir Charles Brett (1928-2005), whether as the author C.E.B. Brett, or Charlie Brett. He was a fascinating figure, a solicitor who was variously a politician, historian, artist, journalist, writer and conservationist.
Frederick Douglass statue unveiled in Belfast
We have a new statue in Belfast! It stands in Lombard Street and commemorates Frederick Douglass, the American author, anti-slavery campaigner and early champion of women’s rights.
Peace and Beyond 2023
In April we participated in a week-long international arts and cultural programme hosted by the British Council Northern Ireland called Peace and Beyond 2023: The Role of Arts in Divided and Polarised Societies to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Meet Suki, the latest DC Tours mascot!
It's the start of the tourist season, Belfast is busier than ever and here at DC Tours we are girding up our loins, lacing up our walking shoes and preparing for another summer of fun and hard work. So what better time to get a new DC Tours mascot?
Silent Testimony
Belfast artist Colin Davidson's exhibition 'Silent Testimony' is on show at the Long Gallery in Stormont until the 30th of April, so we took the opportunity to revisit this powerful series of paintings.
What Price Peace?
This week sees the 50th anniversary of Bloody Friday. The most violent day of the most violent month of the most violent year of the Troubles.
Tales From The Tours
People often ask me “what makes a good tour?”, but this is inevitably from the perspective of the participant. Recently I was asked the question “what makes a good tour for a guide?” And that is a bloody good question.
Belfast & Branagh
The DC Tours phone rang on Monday, and I answered professionally and courteously as usual. Nadia, a pleasant woman with a posh London accent, quickly explained that BBC Breakfast wanted to interview me as a Belfast tour guide and historian about the Kenneth Branagh film ‘Belfast’.
Violet Gibson – The Woman from Dublin who shot Benito Mussolini
The spectre of assassination was probably not envisaged as being in the form of a mentally ill, 50-year-old Dublin woman clothed in a black shawl and armed with a rock and a revolver. This however was how Violet Gibson appeared as she shot and wounded Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.