Malone Road

Malone Road (viewed from junction with University Road), October 2009

The Malone Road (from Irish Maigh Lón, meaning "plain of lambs") is a radial road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, leading from the university quarter southwards to the affluent suburbs of Malone and Upper Malone, each a separate electoral ward. The road runs parallel to the Lisburn Road and is linked by over a dozen side streets, while at its northern end, the Stranmillis Road rejoins the Malone Road to form University Road, which in turn joins with the Lisburn Road to become Bradbury Place. Most of the road is in the BT9 postcode district.

At the southern end of the Malone Road lies Malone House, a mansion in the late Georgian style. The house is now maintained by Belfast City Council.

The residential streets leading off the Malone Road and Upper Malone Road are known for their high property prices, in particular, Malone Park. In Northern Ireland culture, the area has become synonymous with affluence, making the general BT9 area comparable to Dublin 4.

History

The Troubles

On 25 August 1971 during the Troubles Henry Beggs, a 23-year-old Protestant civilian, was killed by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) bomb placed at the Northern Ireland Electricity Service office on Malone Road. In June 1979 Private Alexander Gore of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), also 23, was killed in an IRA gun attack at the Malone Road army barracks.

The Malone Road army base was closed and sold to private developers in 2003.

Education

Fisherwick Presbyterian

St John's Anglican

The district contains two of Belfast's best known grammar schools. At the northern end of the road, number 1 Malone Road is Methodist College Belfast, while further south lies Victoria College, Belfast. The district also hosts Queen's Elms Village, the main halls of residence for students from Queen's University Belfast, housing over 1,000 students.

Inchmarlo, a primary school associated with the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is also located in the area.

Sports

Off the Malone Road are many private sports clubs, the YMCA grounds at Bladon, Belfast Harlequins and Methody sports ground at Deramore Park, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution playing fields at Osborne Park and Bladon, the Queen's University Belfast playing fields at Upper Malone, the Police Service of Northern Ireland country club at Newforge Lane and Instonians and Cooke rugby clubs playing fields at Shaw's Bridge. Malone rugby club began life in Malone before moving to the Cregagh area of Belfast. The Malone Road is also home to St Brigid's Gaelic Athletic Club and Aquinas Football Club

Churches

There are four churches in Malone, including St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church, Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, St John's Anglican Church and McCracken Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Flora and fauna

The wild plants, "weeds", are listed and discussed in the "Urban Flora" by Beesley and Wilde. They noted that the residents keep their gardens relatively weed-free. In the area Scrophularia nodosa (Common Figwort), Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) and Silene dioica (Red Campion) were noted in an old lane off the Malone Park. Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Hellborine) was spreading up New Forge Lane and Allium triquetrum (Three-cornered Garlic) was recorded from Cranmore.

Notable residents

The Malone Road area of Belfast has been home to many notable and historical people. From Moyses Hill, who received a 61-year lease in 1606, to modern day residents such as Caroline McCord, a highly esteemed English graduate and secondary school teacher. John Eccles was the first known resident of Cranmore House., later John Templton lived on the road. Malone Road is also the home of restaurateur and chef Paul Rankin and television presenter Rose Neill.

External links

• Malone House