Now here's a story that has fascinated me for years, ever since I first heard of it. Problem is - I don't know if it is true.

I am told that about fifteen to twenty years ago a group of eejits decided to play a spectacular April Fool's joke on the people of Belfast. They built a huge imitation iceberg out of blocks of expanded polystyrene. The idea was, they would tow it up the Lagan in the dead of night and leave it bobbing about near Queen's Bridge to be "discovered" in the morning.

Well, the iceberg was built and I think taken to H. and W. Shipyard to be launched. How did they get it there I wonder?

However the launch was a shambles and as it was going into the water the whole thing broke up into many pieces and floated off in separate directions. So the prank was abandoned. What a pity. I love daft things like that and it would have been a great fun happening.

Now then, can anyone help to prove or disprove this tale? Are there any photos lying about of this "iceberg" or the disastrous launch?

(Can YOU help satisfy Brian's curiosity and ours! If you can, why not e-mail us here at [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of this page - NI Editor)

YOUR RESPONSES

Ian Banks - February '05
I assume this is related, but artist Rita Duffy was on the Radio 4 Today programme this morning, describing her ambition to tow an iceberg from Norway into Belfast Lough as a public art installation.