The Northern Whig
Encyclopedia
The Northern Whig is a bar housed in a historical building in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
.
It is situated in the Cathedral Quarter, just to the north of the city centre
. At various times during its history it has been a gentleman's club, a newspaper and is currently a bar owned by Botanic Inns.
. They met in various locations around the Bridge Street area in Belfast. In 1795 various members including Theobald Wolfe Tone
and Henry Joy McCracken
met at Cavehill
to the north of Belfast, a meeting that was a pivotal step towards the 1798 Rebellion
.
In 1819 construction began on the current Northern Whig building in Bridge Street, taking its name from the original club. The foundation stone was laid on St. Patrick’s Day, and the building was completed in 1821 as a hotel and gentlemen's club. In 1798 McCracken had been tried and hanged at the Belfast Assembly Rooms, across the road from the building. The Assembly Rooms building was used as a branch of the Northern Bank
during the 20th century, but is currently vacant.
, founder of the Arnott's
department Stores. In 1922 the company moved to the Bridge Street building, where they remained until 1963 when the newspaper ceased production. Along with much of nearby High Street, the building was damaged during the Belfast Blitz
in 1941. After this period the company then became a commercial printing firm and moved to north Belfast to their present site on the Limestone Road. The company currently specializes in lithographic and digital print for the public and private sector, offering a one-stop-shop for copy writing, design, print and print finishing. Highly successful in recent years, the company was listed in "Deloitte's Fast 50". The company still exists as of 2008 and has recently invested in new technology to assist with production demands..
headquarters, they were commissioned to celebrate the Russian Revolution of 1917
.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
It is situated in the Cathedral Quarter, just to the north of the city centre
Belfast City Centre
Belfast city centre is the central business district of Belfast, Northern Ireland.The city centre was originally centred around the Donegall Street area. Donegall Street is now mainly a business area, but with expanding residential and entertainment development as part of the Cathedral Quarter...
. At various times during its history it has been a gentleman's club, a newspaper and is currently a bar owned by Botanic Inns.
The Northern Whig Club
The original Northern Whig Club was formed in Belfast in 1791 by the Society of the United IrishmenSociety of the United Irishmen
The Society of United Irishmen was founded as a liberal political organisation in eighteenth century Ireland that sought Parliamentary reform. However, it evolved into a revolutionary republican organisation, inspired by the American Revolution and allied with Revolutionary France...
. They met in various locations around the Bridge Street area in Belfast. In 1795 various members including Theobald Wolfe Tone
Theobald Wolfe Tone
Theobald Wolfe Tone or Wolfe Tone , was a leading Irish revolutionary figure and one of the founding members of the United Irishmen and is regarded as the father of Irish Republicanism. He was captured by British forces at Lough Swilly in Donegal and taken prisoner...
and Henry Joy McCracken
Henry Joy McCracken
Henry Joy McCracken was an Irish industrialist and a founding member of the Society of the United Irishmen.-History:...
met at Cavehill
Cavehill
Cavehill, historically known as Ben Madigan , is a basaltic hill overlooking the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It forms part of the southeastern border of the Antrim Plateau. It is distinguished by its famous 'Napoleon's Nose', a basaltic outcrop which resembles the profile of the famous...
to the north of Belfast, a meeting that was a pivotal step towards the 1798 Rebellion
Irish Rebellion of 1798
The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...
.
In 1819 construction began on the current Northern Whig building in Bridge Street, taking its name from the original club. The foundation stone was laid on St. Patrick’s Day, and the building was completed in 1821 as a hotel and gentlemen's club. In 1798 McCracken had been tried and hanged at the Belfast Assembly Rooms, across the road from the building. The Assembly Rooms building was used as a branch of the Northern Bank
Northern Bank
Northern Bank , is a commercial bank in Northern Ireland. It is one of the oldest banks in Ireland having been formed in 1809. Northern Bank is considered one of the leading retail banks in Northern Ireland with 82 branches and four finance centres...
during the 20th century, but is currently vacant.
The Northern Whig Newspaper and Printers
In 1823 a newspaper, also called the Northern Whig was founded in Belfast, and was owned for a period by John ArnottJohn Arnott
Sir John Arnott, 1st Baronet JP was an Irish entrepreneur and a major figure in the commercial and political spheres of late-19th century Cork. He was also founder of the Arnotts department chain.-Background:...
, founder of the Arnott's
Arnotts (Ireland)
Arnotts is the oldest and largest department store in Dublin, Ireland. The company has two stores in Dublin. Its flagship store is located on Henry Street on the northside of the city centre, and there is a smaller store selling mainly shoes in an outlet in Stillorgan Shopping Centre in south...
department Stores. In 1922 the company moved to the Bridge Street building, where they remained until 1963 when the newspaper ceased production. Along with much of nearby High Street, the building was damaged during the Belfast Blitz
Belfast Blitz
The Belfast Blitz was an event that occurred on the night of Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941 during World War II. Two hundred bombers of the German Air Force attacked the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Nearly one thousand people died as a result of the bombing and 1,500 were injured. In terms...
in 1941. After this period the company then became a commercial printing firm and moved to north Belfast to their present site on the Limestone Road. The company currently specializes in lithographic and digital print for the public and private sector, offering a one-stop-shop for copy writing, design, print and print finishing. Highly successful in recent years, the company was listed in "Deloitte's Fast 50". The company still exists as of 2008 and has recently invested in new technology to assist with production demands..
The bar
From 1963 until 1997 the building housed offices. In 1997 it was bought by the Mooney family's Botanic Inns, and after extensive renovation turned into a bar. The bar features a number of Soviet era statues. Originally housed in the Prague Communist PartyCommunist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
headquarters, they were commissioned to celebrate the Russian Revolution of 1917
Russian Revolution of 1917
The Russian Revolution is the collective term for a series of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist autocracy and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The Tsar was deposed and replaced by a provisional government in the first revolution of February 1917...
.