Dr Lauren Smyth
@laurensmytg.bsky.social
Historian of child welfare and poverty in early 19th Century Belfast. PhD from QUB and currently working as the historian of Clifton House.
Great afternoon spent being interviewed by Ceilidh Jeffrey from That’s TV Belfast on uncovering the stories of some of the women who are buried in Clifton St Cemetery and the contributions they made to Belfast society.
#womenshistory #HERstory
#womenshistory #HERstory
July 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Great afternoon spent being interviewed by Ceilidh Jeffrey from That’s TV Belfast on uncovering the stories of some of the women who are buried in Clifton St Cemetery and the contributions they made to Belfast society.
#womenshistory #HERstory
#womenshistory #HERstory
Reposted by Dr Lauren Smyth
This would be terrific to see this wonderful building looked after finally. It has such connections with the glorious 1790s , the passion of all things antiquarian and Irish.
Belfast: City council set to bid to purchase Assembly Rooms - BBC News share.google/wAJUSqhxSUtS...
Belfast: City council set to bid to purchase Assembly Rooms - BBC News share.google/wAJUSqhxSUtS...
Belfast: City council set to bid to purchase Assembly Rooms
A committee has agreed to make an offer to take the derelict 18th century building out of private ownership
share.google
July 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This would be terrific to see this wonderful building looked after finally. It has such connections with the glorious 1790s , the passion of all things antiquarian and Irish.
Belfast: City council set to bid to purchase Assembly Rooms - BBC News share.google/wAJUSqhxSUtS...
Belfast: City council set to bid to purchase Assembly Rooms - BBC News share.google/wAJUSqhxSUtS...
Reposted by Dr Lauren Smyth
Join Us for an Inspiring Talk at Clifton House as part of the @FeileBelfast with @laurensmytg.bsky.social and others.
Hear how Mary Ann McCracken championed the rights of the poor & explore how Winifred Carney & May Blood challenged political barriers. visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
Hear how Mary Ann McCracken championed the rights of the poor & explore how Winifred Carney & May Blood challenged political barriers. visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
July 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Join Us for an Inspiring Talk at Clifton House as part of the @FeileBelfast with @laurensmytg.bsky.social and others.
Hear how Mary Ann McCracken championed the rights of the poor & explore how Winifred Carney & May Blood challenged political barriers. visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
Hear how Mary Ann McCracken championed the rights of the poor & explore how Winifred Carney & May Blood challenged political barriers. visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
#OnThisDay 1770 Mary Ann McCracken was born to Captain John McCracken+his wife Ann. She would go on to led one of the most remarkable lives Belfast’s history.
Her motto, which accurately sums up her character, was that it was ‘better to wear out than to rust out’.
#womenshistory #HERstory
Her motto, which accurately sums up her character, was that it was ‘better to wear out than to rust out’.
#womenshistory #HERstory
July 8, 2025 at 7:54 AM
#OnThisDay 1770 Mary Ann McCracken was born to Captain John McCracken+his wife Ann. She would go on to led one of the most remarkable lives Belfast’s history.
Her motto, which accurately sums up her character, was that it was ‘better to wear out than to rust out’.
#womenshistory #HERstory
Her motto, which accurately sums up her character, was that it was ‘better to wear out than to rust out’.
#womenshistory #HERstory
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the first child to have entered the Belfast Poor House. When the Poor House first opened its doors in 1774, it did not intend to receive children as they didn’t have the resources to care for them.
July 7, 2025 at 8:52 AM
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the first child to have entered the Belfast Poor House. When the Poor House first opened its doors in 1774, it did not intend to receive children as they didn’t have the resources to care for them.
Love researching the festive traditions of the Belfast poorhouse at Christmas, especially when it comes to the children 🎄. Some of my particular favourites is some of the children going home to spend Christmas with their families and having a Christmas tea party in 1815 🧁.
#christmas
#christmas
In the 1820s Christmas Day was ‘business as usual’ in Clifton House, and children still went to school. However, they were given small gifts including nuts, apples and oranges- very exotic and expensive for the time! By the 1830s it became the celebration we know today HT @laurensmytg.bsky.social
December 20, 2024 at 8:36 AM
Love researching the festive traditions of the Belfast poorhouse at Christmas, especially when it comes to the children 🎄. Some of my particular favourites is some of the children going home to spend Christmas with their families and having a Christmas tea party in 1815 🧁.
#christmas
#christmas
Reposted by Dr Lauren Smyth
Our #IrishStudies seminar series is taking a break over the holidays, but we will will be back (in-person and online) on Monday 20th January at 4.30 when Margaret Ward will talk about her new book 'Rebel Women'. All welcome. www.qub.ac.uk/schools/Iris... #IrishHistory
December 11, 2024 at 12:06 PM
Our #IrishStudies seminar series is taking a break over the holidays, but we will will be back (in-person and online) on Monday 20th January at 4.30 when Margaret Ward will talk about her new book 'Rebel Women'. All welcome. www.qub.ac.uk/schools/Iris... #IrishHistory
Many thanks to all the staff at QUB and Clifton House for supporting my research over the years! It is a privilege to be highlighting the work of the Belfast Charitable Society and Mary Ann McCracken
Lauren Smyth's research appreciated by Clifton House (from FB):
Yesterday our Historian Lauren graduated from Queen's University with her PhD. Dr Lauren Smyth has been engaged with Clifton House for a number of years, first as a student while completing her Masters in Public History,
Yesterday our Historian Lauren graduated from Queen's University with her PhD. Dr Lauren Smyth has been engaged with Clifton House for a number of years, first as a student while completing her Masters in Public History,
December 10, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Many thanks to all the staff at QUB and Clifton House for supporting my research over the years! It is a privilege to be highlighting the work of the Belfast Charitable Society and Mary Ann McCracken