Belfast's role in the ship's story has been neglected

More than 1,500 people died when the ship's maiden voyage ended in tragedy after it sank in the Atlantic.

It is 92 years since the famous ship was built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city.

The organisers of the Titanic - Made in Belfast exhibition say the city has shouldered too much of the shame for the tragedy.

A series of events, beginning on 10 April, has been organised by the city council in close association with the Belfast Titanic Society.

Una Reilly, co-founder of the society, believes that Belfast should be the focus for Titanic, in the eyes of the world.

Only women and children were being allowed on the lifeboats, but if he had been on the other side, he might have escaped Una Reilly Belfast Titanic Society

"My clarion call is that what happened to Titanic was a disaster; she was not," Ms Reilly said.

"Every item of memorabilia in the exhibition has a story to tell," she added.

The little girl's doll was found floating in the waters in the days after the boat sank, while the life jacket, which is on loan from a museum in Orlando, was worn by Madeline Astor.

"Her husband was a millionaire. He divorced, which was a great scandal at the time," said Ms O'Reilly.

"He married an 18-year-old and they went off on a grand tour.

"They were returning to America on Titanic. She was pregnant. He went down with the ship. He was found, drowned, with �1,000 in his pockets.

"He had been on the wrong side of the ship. Only women and children were being allowed on the lifeboats, but if he had been on the other side, he might have escaped. It was all down to luck on the night."

The photographs were taken by Father Frank Browne, the famous Irish priest and photographer.

As a young clerical student, he boarded Titanic at Southampton and travelled overnight to Queenstown (Cobh) in Cork, recording forever, in sepia, the last days of the passengers on board.

While the tragedy of the story is all too well known, Belfast's part in this human story, the role of the peole of Belfast in bringing Titanic to life, has been neglected Martin Morgan Lord Mayor ofBelfast

He asked his superior if he could go on to America.

However, a telegraph was sent, refusing him permission, which, by a quirk of fate, probably saved his life.

It is the first time that Fr Browne's Titanic Album has been exhibited in its entirety in Ireland.

The week of celebrations will feature four plays. One is a radio play by Belfast playwright Stewart Parker, called The Iceberg.

The programme of events includes exhibitions, story telling, talks, walking, bus and boat tours, drama and music.

Two years ago, on the 90th anniversary of Titanic, 31,000 people came to Belfast, 10,000 were visitors from outside Northern Ireland, drawn by their fascination for the story.

Belfast's Lord Mayor Martin Morgan said: "While Titanic's story is one of technological achievement coupled with unforeseen disaster, it is also a very human one - the story of the men who built her and of the men, women and children who sailed in her.

"It is a story of triumph and tragedy.

"While the tragedy of the story is all too well known, Belfast's part in this human story, the role of the peole of Belfast in bringing Titanic to life, has been neglected."

The city council and the Belfast Titanic Society have set out to change that.

They want to celebrate the achievement, commemorate the tragedy and educate the world about Belfast's role in the Titanic Story.