A Sense of Sailortown
In the back streets of Belfast- a city of ill renown
Once stood a place everyone knew by the name of Sailortown
Now a big concrete flyover runs along what was once your street
The planners called it progress, other voices spoke of lies and deceit.
But of its memory we strive to preserve,
Surely that, is the least that we deserve.
The people and those old streets are now a place apart
But then, the real Sailortown lies within the heart.
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Your Responses: Ivy Armstrong - February '08
What about the book Echoes of the Past that was launched in 2007 - I have been unable to find it. Where can I buy a copy? George Kirkpatrick - Jan '07
I ran about that area with chums 50 years ago, iIcalled it Sailorstown, my chums who lived there called it sailorstown, I never ever recall, anyone calling it anything other than sailorstown. Sam Johnston - Sep '06
Enjoyed the poem. Perhaps someone could tell me why some people say Sailortown, whilst others say Sailorstown and some even split it into two words, Sailor (s) Town. I have heard many people use Sailorstown, including historian John Grey during a lecture on the place. I have also heard local writer John Campbell explain to Gerry Anderson (Radio Ulster that he says Sailorstown as Sailor is singular and Sailors is plural, meaning there was more than one sailor in Sailorstown. They were discussing Campbell's poem called Sailorstown. Anderson seemed to accept this logic. I've also heard it said that Prods say Sailorstown whilst Catholics say Sailortown. This is inaccurate as I've heard many Catholics say Sailorstown and vice-versa. Can anyone settle the argument?
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