The Farset runs from the Horseshoe Bend above Ballysillan/Ligoniel south across the Shankill before turning east towards the city centre at what is now the western end of the west Belfast war wall (“peace line”) at junction of Lanark Way and Cupar Way (Visual History), before emptying into the Lagan. In the city centre, it ran along Castle Place and High Street, but, because it was used as a sewer, it was paved over by 1848 (BBC). It can still be seen (above ground) in Townsend Enterprise Park, former site of the Soho Foundry) and in spots closer to its source.

This new piece shows scenes along the Farset just inland from the Lagan shore, showing goods being unloaded along the High Street docks (here is a map (“ground plan”) from 1685 which labels the Farset as “Belfast River”, and a painting by Joseph Carey c. 1820) and the footbridge used to cross the Farset between the Entries (Visual History) at what is now Bridge Street. (There appears to be a mistake in the map: Pottinger’s Entry is east of Joy’s Entry.)

The portrait is of Henry Joy McCracken, leader of the United Irishmen, who was born and executed by the Farset, in High Street. He was born at 39 High Street (WP) and executed in front of the Market House (shown on the left of the painting) (Lord Belmont) at the top of Cornmarket (BBC) (where Dunnes Stores now is, and before it, Woolworths); he was buried in St George’s, at what was at that time the end of the Farset, where Victoria and High streets now meet.

In McCracken’s right oxter is the gatehouse of the old Belfast Castle, the great majority of which McCracken’s portrait supplants – see the original image at Eddie’s Extracts.

Painted by Graffic Belfast (ig) for Belfast One BID (ig) on Culture Night, on a boarded-up (since anchor tenant Bank Of Ireland departed in mid-2020) entrance to the Middleton Building in High Street, across from the site of the old Market.

High Street, Belfast/Béal Feırste

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2026 Paddy Duffy
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