Donegall Square

{{Short description|Public square in central Belfast, Northern Ireland}}

{{infobox street|

| name = Donegall Square

| image = City Hall Belfast.jpg

| image_alt = a photograph of part of Donegall Square showing Belfast City Hall viewed through trees lining a pavement with people walking

| caption = Belfast City Hall in Donegall Square

| coordinates = {{coord|54|35|47.3|N|5|55|48.2|W|type:landmark_region|display=inline,title}}

| map_type = United Kingdom Greater Belfast

| map_caption = Location within Belfast

| namesake = Donegall family

| maint = Belfast City Council

| designer =

| completion_date =

| north = {{indented plainlist|

A1 eastbound
Donegall Square North

}}

| south = {{indented plainlist|

A1 westbound
Donegall Square South

}}

| west = Donegall Square West

| east = Donegall Square East

| website = {{URL|https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/Things-to-Do/Parks-and-Open-Spaces/A-Z-Parks/Belfast-City-Hall-grounds}}

}}

Donegall Square is a square in the centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. At its centre is Belfast City Hall, the headquarters of Belfast City Council.{{cite web |title=Belfast City Hall {{!}} Plan your visit |url=https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/visitcityhall |website=Belfast City Council |access-date=15 February 2025 |language=en}}

Name

Each side of the square is named according to its geographical location, i.e. Donegall Square North, South, East and West. It is named after the Donegall family. Other streets to bear their name in Belfast are Donegall Road, Donegall Pass and Donegall Street. Donegall Place, the city's main shopping street, runs from the north side of the square.

History

The square was an exclusive residential area prior to the commercial expansion of the city.{{cite book |last1=Bryan |first1=Dominic |last2=Connolly |first2=S. J. |last3=Nagle |first3=John |title=Civic identity and public space: Belfast since 1780 |date=28 June 2019 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-1-5261-3831-6 |url=https://doi.org/10.7765/9781526138316.00009 |access-date=15 February 2025 |chapter=The making of a municipal culture|doi=10.7765/9781526138316.00009 }}

Notable buildings and businesses

Notable buildings on the square include the Linen Hall Library and the [http://www.scottishprovidentbuilding.co.uk Scottish Provident Building], now a five-star serviced office business centre. The Ten Square Hotel on Donegall Square South was originally a Victorian linen warehouse. Its exterior features carved portholes, with the faces of George Washington, Sir Isaac Newton, Michelangelo and William Shakespeare protruding.

On the square are many bank and society branches, including HSBC, Nationwide, Irish Nationwide, Santander, Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Co-operative Bank, First Trust Bank, Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank and Ulster Bank. Many of the above have their Northern Ireland headquarters on the square. The Northern Bank robbery occurred at the bank's headquarters on Donegall Square West. In addition, it is home to many law firms, including Millar McCall & Wylie, Sullivans, Rice & Company, McGriggors LLP, and Ferguson Solicitors.

References

Category:Streets in Belfast