First glimpses of Belfast's long-awaited Blitz memorial as 85th anniversary of carnage approaches

It came on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the main raid on the city, on April 15/16, 1941.

The project will be finished ahead of the 86th anniversary of the blitz in 2027, Belfast City Council expects.

It will stand in Cathedral Gardens at the northern end of the city centre (it used to be nicknamed Buoy Park, but the buoys which gave it this name have since been removed).

Work began in January on a large revamp of the park at a cost of £5m.

One of the images here is a photograph of the bronze element of the memorial portraying a scene from the blitz, transposed against the background of the park.

The other image depicts a long list of the engraved names of those killed in the aerial onslaught.

The council said that “visitors to the memorial will see themselves reflected in an historical image of the bombed-out Belfast International Bar, which once stood on the site of the planned artwork, powerfully connecting past and present”.

In a statement accompanying the images, Belfast Lord Mayor councillor Tracy Kelly said: “It’s been a privilege to have the Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum’s expert support and guidance in creating this important Blitz Memorial for our regenerated Cathedral Gardens, as well as empathetic creative input and direction from artists Ralf and Naomi Sander.

“This area of the city was badly impacted by air raids during World War Two, so Cathedral Gardens will be a fitting home to this new Belfast Blitz Memorial, creating a space where people can pause, reflect and honour all those who lost their lives.”

Don Bigger, chairman of the museum, said: “The Belfast Blitz memorial will be a compelling monument to a tragic time in our city’s history which had a devastating impact.

“Belfast suffered four bombing raids in 1941, now known as the Dockside Raid (April 7-8), Easter Tuesday Raid (April 15-16), Fire Raid (May 4-5) and the Final Raid (May 5-6).

“This beautiful memorial will recognise and name all those who we know were killed ‘as a result of enemy action’ during the Blitz in Belfast.

“We’d like to thank historians Alan Freeburn and Dr Brian Barton who worked with us at NIWM to examine official sources, government records and issued a public call for help to identify the list of 952 known fatalities that will be named on the memorial.”

Artist Ralf Sander said: “Our artwork tells many stories simultaneously, forming a timeless narrative in a single image against the backdrop of the city centre which became smouldering rubble.

“Ultimately, it depicts the humanity and solidarity of Belfast’s people in the face of a merciless war machine.”

He said “my daughter Naomi and I sculpted the figures over the period of more than a year,” adding it has been “emotionally demanding to engage with images of so much human suffering over such a protracted period” but that “we are deeply grateful and honoured” to do it.

The same pair of sculptors were also behind the statues of Easter Rising rebel Winifred Carney carrying a handgun and anti-slavery campaigner Mary Ann McCracken at Belfast City Hall in 2024.