It’s been more than 15 years since Belfast last held official New Year celebrations. Gillian Halliday asks if the city can learn from Edinburgh and stage a revival of December 31 events Belfast hasn’t had official December 31 events since 2008, and now a debate is stirring on whether or not to bring them back When the clocks strike midnight in Belfast on December 31, the bars and nightclubs will be full of revellers cheering and making the most of the New Year’s Eve celebrations — but City Hall will be silent and its grounds empty with the Christmas market gone. All of the city’s municipal landmarks will be shut for the bank holiday the next day.
It’s been more than 15 years since Belfast last held any official events to mark the celebration, and in stark contrast to most of the UK regional capitals that will be putting on a big show for December 31..
