Belfast Council developing a temporary, 400-pitch tent campsite at Ormeau Park for the Fleadh
Ormeau Park (Image: Belfast Live)
A DUP councillor has said “patience is wearing thin” for residents living beside Ormeau Park who believe the park is being overused, particularly with the use of the space as a Fleadh campsite.
The criticism came during a committee meeting in which elected representatives approved two further events for the park, as well as events for Boucher Playing Fields and Falls Park.
Councillors at the March meeting of the People and Communities Committee approved the March for Jesus and Belfast Memory Walk at Ormeau Park, as well as Mary’s Meals, A Step by Step Sponsored Walk for Falls Park and Fundamania at Boucher Playing Fields.
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However, during the meeting, DUP Councillor Ruth Brooks sounded a note of caution about events in parks, particularly in Ormeau, and highlighted the council’s creation of a temporary campsite for the Fleadh in August.
She said: “I have no issue with the events coming in, however I have been engaging with residents in and around the Ormeau embankment. This is one of the heaviest years for use of Ormeau Park – the Belsonic programme has six consecutive nights in which the park is going to be used.
“Then (for the Fleadh) in August we will have a campsite for ten days that will block access into Ormeau Park and the Ozone. There will be another event in September which will involve overnight use of the park.
“The patience of residents is starting to wear really thin, because the park is being used so much, and because of the continuous closures. We regularly have Botanic Park residents coming in around overuse of that park, (so I have to highlight) the strength of feeling coming particularly around the Ormeau embankment and Ravenhill Road side.
“It just feels that Ormeau Park is being filled to capacity for different events. We have had one of the wettest ever winters, we are coming into the drier months and it seems like the park is being halved for events. How many more events can we realistically take?”
A council official said they would “take that up with consultations surrounding the major events.”
Councillor Brooks said: “There is consultation for the use of Titanic Quarter in relation to caravans, but there is no actual formal consultation process, in terms of people being able to write in, for the use of Ormeau for tents. It doesn’t have to go through planning as well.
“It has been voiced very strongly to me (by residents) that their patience is being really tested with the number of events.” The council official said there would be consultation over the campsite.
Belfast City Council is developing a temporary, prebooked 400-pitch tent campsite at Ormeau Park for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which is from August 2 to 9, this year. The site will feature 24-hour security, toilets/showers, and a food/bar area.
Alliance Councillor Micky Murray said at the meeting: “I know there were issues with Fundamania last year with noise. We need to be assured there will be some level of consultation or feedback with local residents regarding that event.” A council official said he “would organise that.”
All Nation Church’s March for Jesus takes place at Ormeau Park on Saturday May 16, and Mary’s Meals Step by Step Sponsored Walk will take place at Falls Park on June 13.
Fundamania at Boucher Playing Fields will run from Saturday September 19 to Sunday October 11, while the Belfast Memory Walk 2026 at Ormeau Park will take place on Saturday September 26.
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