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Launch of the Titanic celebrated 100 years on - PHOTOS & VIDEOS

EVELYN TIERNAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 12:55 PM

Updated Wednesday, June 1, 2011, 10:01 AM

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Ship builders examine the Titanic's rudder before its launch 100 years ago

Today, the incredible shipbuilding heritage and maritime historic city of Belfast marks the launch of the RMS Titanic. One year later the Titanic would crash en route to New York and claim the lives of 1,500 people.

The firing of the single flare marked the moment, exactly 100 years ago to the minute (12.13am GMT), that the mighty liner touched the water for the first time.

The ceremony marks the moment in history when on the afternoon of 31 May 1911, the Titanic carried with her the pride of Belfast as she eased down her Queen’s Island slipway and into Belfast Lough. Less than a year later, the Titanic sailed into history when she hit an iceberg and sank on her maiden trans-Atlantic voyage, with the loss of 1,500 lives.

Speaking at today’s ceremony, the newly-elected Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said, “The Titanic story is probably one of the most fascinating, amazing, poignant, thought provoking and absorbing tales from the last century, if not the last millennium."

Among the invited guests were school children from across Northern Ireland who took part in the recent Titanic Schools Project. Also present were representatives from the four other cities and towns directly connected to the Titanic story – Cherbourg, Cobh (formerly Queenstown), Liverpool and Southampton. Descendants of men who worked on the Titanic, including the nine men of the Guarantee Group who lost their lives on board in April 1912 – also attended, alongside dozens of journalists from around the globe.

Mike Smith, CEO of Titanic Quarter Ltd, who are responsible for the regeneration of the Titanic Quarter, said, “It was an honour for Titanic Quarter to host this poignant service on the Queen’s Island slipway from which the world famous liner was launched, marking one of the most significant and proud moments in Belfast’s history.”

Smith added, “Taking centre stage is the Titanic Belfast visitor facility, a truly iconic building which is expected to attract up to 400,000 visitors per year...ensuring the memory of Titanic and all those connected to her will live on in the heart of the city which designed and built her.”

Earlier in the day, a major new exhibition on Titanic opened at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. ‘TITANICa’ tells the story of the mighty ship and her world through more than 500 original artifacts, some of which have never been seen before. Visitors can learn about life onboard the vessel through fascinating objects and personal stories that explore the tragic loss of the Titanic in 1912.

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Irish who lost their lives on the Titanic remembered 99 years later - VIDEO

Violin that played as the Titanic sank found after nearly 100 years - VIDEO

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Pamela | Apr 12, 2012, 06:50 PM EDT

Maureen: As to why they did not see the iceberg coming - it was because it was what is called a "blue berg". Remembering that approximately 9/10 of the entire berg is BELOW the water line and thus invisible, a blue berg does not have that snowy white cap above water that we all think of. Instead it is more like a bluish glass that can't be seen until you are right up on it. Really the only way to distinguish it at night is to observe a difference in the stars (or lack of them) that the berg is in front of on the horizon. butlerreport: As for the number who died, it should be remembered that the ship carried MORE life boats than required by law. Regulations of the time based the numbers of life boats by the projected tonnage of the vessel, not people. The designer of the ship, Thomas Andrews had wanted even more than was the final number. You can THANK the Titanic, it's loss and all the people who died for the laws we have today that make sure that there are more than enough life boats on a ship. If anyone should hang their heads in shame, it would be Bruce Ismay and Captain Lord of the Californian.

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JacobEcheverria | Mar 29, 2012, 09:48 PM EDT

Nice, see Titanic Boston in memory of John Harper.(you tube)

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titanicstories | Aug 02, 2011, 06:02 AM EDT

Read more on the Titanic Belfast building coming in March 2012: http://www.the-titanic.com/Titanic-Today/Attractions/Titanic-Belfast.aspx

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Maureeen | Jun 01, 2011, 10:04 AM EDT

I think it was the hitting of the iceberg that sank the boat and not because the boat was made badly... unless in those days (or even these days) you can build an iceberg proof boat. On the other hand.. How come they didn't see the massive Iceberg in front of them anyway?

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butlerreport | Jun 01, 2011, 07:35 AM EDT

Celebrate a badly made ship? Celebrate the death of 1500 who couldn't get off? They should hang their heads in shame.

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