A permanent memorial plaque has been unveiled today on the Donegall Road to mark a burial ground where more than 10,000 people from the former Belfast Workhouse were laid to rest.

The Belfast Workhouse opened in 1841 to provide relief for the poor. As local cemeteries reached capacity, a dedicated space on the workhouse grounds was designated for burials. Most of those interred at the site were buried in unmarked graves, including the working poor, the sick, and victims of various epidemics whose families could not afford private burial plots.

The memorial has been mounted on a small remaining section of the original workhouse wall and gatepost, located between 263 – 265 Donegall Road (BT12 5NB).

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, who campaigned for the plaque's installation, described the event as a significant moment for the city's heritage. Cllr Kelly said: "This memorial is a long-overdue tribute to the thousands of men, women, and children who were laid to rest here in unmarked graves. For too long, this significant chapter of our city's history remained hidden, but today we ensure that those who suffered within the walls of the workhouse are finally remembered with the dignity they deserve."

Social historian Dr. Robyn Atcheson of Queen's University Belfast, who also advocated for the memorial, highlighted the site's importance as the last remaining Famine grave in Belfast.

"The history of the Belfast workhouse is the history of the city itself," Dr. Atcheson stated. "With this memorial, we are acknowledging the working poor, the sick and the hungry who passed through the workhouse as well as those who died as a result of epidemics and whose families could not afford a grave. The Belfast workhouse still has many stories to tell."

The installation of the plaque ensures that this neglected part of Belfast's history is now a visible and permanent landmark, providing a respectful tribute to the thousands of individuals buried within the site.