Built on Donegal Square, located at the centre of the layout of Belfast streets, this 1906 structure was modeled after St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It was designed by architect Brumwell Thomas in the Renaissance Revival Tradition.
The grounds outside City Hall contain well placed monuments to key Belfast historical figures, including: a statue of Sir Edward Harland, founder of the Harland & Wolff shipbuilding company, a memorial to those who perished on its ship, the Titanic, a memorial to the U.S. Expeditionary Force’s landing in the city on January 26, 1942 (the first US Army contingent to enter Europe in WWII), and an imposing statue of Queen Victoria at the building’s main entrance.
City Hall is constructed from Portland Stone and features four ornate towers – one at each corner of the building. Its remarkable 173-foot copper dome can be seen from the inside at the entrance hall, and is an awesome sight to behold.
The interior of the building contains many elaborate arches and doorways, as well as ornate plasterwork, stained glass windows, paintings, and Italian marble work. The most outstanding room is the council chamber, which is paneled with rich oak.
City Hall is by far the most opulent public building to be found in Belfast.