Welcome To Belfast u3a - the University of the Third Age
Titanic Centre->Slieve Corragh->CS Lewis Square-> Botanic Gardens->Bank Steet
There are no current notices
Our Address
Please: mark your envelope: For the attention of the intended contact person (e.g.. Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Secretary)
Please: Use the Full Address as given here for all post to
Belfast U3A,
Unit 136,
Mail Boxes Etc.,
38 Montgomery Business Park, Montgomery Road,
Belfast, BT6 9HL
Please do NOT use any previous addresses of Officers or personally deliver mail to any Officer’s home address.
A Potted history of Belfast u3a by Ann Hayes
Brian Connors having heard about Foyle U3A organised an open meeting at Belfast Castle in autumn 2000.As there was some interest shown a further meeting was held at Ruby Tuesdays on the Antrim road. Eleven people were at the meeting, Brian offered to chair the meeting and Ann Hayes offered to take notes. It was decided to start Belfast U3A and the first three groups were walking, book and an out and about group.
Temporary membership of the Third Age Trust t was applied for in November 2000.In February 2001 Belfast U3A became a fully affiliated member of The Trust. As the numbers of people joining Belfast U3A increased a new meeting place was needed and the first meeting took place in the Belvoir Park Forest Education Room in October 2001.New interest groups were formed, another walking group, bridge, play reading and also painting .
Following a landslide in the forest park a new venue had to be found and so we moved to the Belvoir Players Theatre in May 2003.Monthly meetings and interest groups met there until March 2019 when increasing numbers necessitated another move for the monthly meetings, to the Balmoral Hotel, Dunmurry. In the 25th year of Belfast u3a there are now 1212 members and about 70 Interest Groups and it continues to attract new members from all over the city and beyond.
History of Belfast City Hall - The Great Hall
Belfast City Hall stands as one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, built during a period of rapid industrial growth and civic confidence. After Belfast was granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1888, local leaders sought a building that reflected its new standing. The chosen site — once home to the White Linen Hall — became the foundation for a grand Baroque Revival design by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas. Construction began in 1898, and the building officially opened on 1 August 1906, built from Portland stone and funded largely through profits from the city’s gas industry.
Inside, the Great Hall (often referred to as the Banquet Hall in historical records) showcases the craftsmanship and opulence of the era. Many of the artisans who worked on the Titanic’s interiors also contributed to City Hall’s decorative features, resulting in rich woodwork, intricate plaster detailing, and elegant Edwardian finishes that echo Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage. Although part of the hall was damaged during the Belfast Blitz in 1941, it was carefully restored, preserving its role as a centrepiece of civic life.
One of the room's most striking features is its collection of seven magnificent stained-glass windows. These original panes were fortunately removed for safekeeping just before the air raids of World War II, allowing them to survive the destruction and be reinstalled during the restoration. These windows, along with the ornate plasterwork and high ceilings, create an atmosphere of immense civic pride and historical depth.
Today, the Great Hall continues to host major events, receptions, and celebrations, maintaining its place at the heart of Belfast’s public and ceremonial life. Its blend of architectural grandeur and historical significance makes it a fitting setting for milestone occasions — including Belfast u3a’s 25th Anniversary
Latest Notices
Get to Know Your Digital World with Belfast u3a and AbilityNet, sponsored by BT Group
More and more everyday activities like booking a doctor’s appointment, managing your finances, or arranging home deliveries are becoming harder to do without the internet. If you could benefit from upgrading your digital skills, we’re here to help! Whether it's learning the basics, mastering everyday online tasks, or even exploring the fun side of being online, we've got the resources and support to guide you.
We are pleased to let you know that AbilityNet has come forward with a further series of BT-sponsored IT Skills sessions. The venue is the British Telecom Riverside Tower (Lanyon Place). Sessions will be led by the enthusiastic Ling Gillespie (Digital Inclusion Skills Trainer) along with AbilityNet and Belfast u3a facilitators, who a number of you met while taking part in the first series
- Coffee and tea will be provided in the venue, and there are a number of cafes nearby if you are staying over lunchtime.
- Getting to the BT Riverside Tower (Lanyon Place) The Glider (G1) and Metro buses (3j, 4c, 4e) stop close by. The adjacent multi-storey carparks are expensive; the surface car park in Cromac Street (about 8 minutes walk) is better value.
- Further sessions (presentations & workshops) are scheduled for the first two weeks in June 2026 and will consider various aspects of managing healthcare online, including digital access to medical records and hospital services, and Apps to support people with sight or hearing loss. These sessions will be notified in early May 2026.
WEBSITE NEWS
We are pleased to announce a new How To Page on our website which provides access to pre recorded videos (Webinars) and Fact Sheets on a wide range of digital skills topics. These are provided in partnership with AbilityNet and the BT Group as a follow up to the recent Digital skills awareness sessions.
Getting Started
Everyday Tasks
Learning The Basics
Personal Interests
This new feature can be accessed via a new option 'How To' on the MAIN MENU bar above
Announcing NEW Belfast u3a 25th Anniversary Web Page click below
Audio & Transcripts
Now Listen to the audio and read transcripts of the Speeches delivered on the day
NEW Audio and Transcript of Talk given by Siobhan Casey Commissioner for Older People NI.
Would you like to try something new?
Or to share your existing skills with others? We invite you to join us and try one of our 65 interest Groups. Not only will you have the chance to share learning experiences on a wide range of topics and activities, but you will also have the opportunity to make new friends and have fun.
A Self-help Organisation...
With groups led by members for members. Our group activities include bridge, walking, cycling, languages, reading, creative writing, philosophy, bowling, photography, bat and chat table tennis and much else besides. See what we have to offer on our Groups page.
Monthly Meetings
We have a meeting that starts at 11 :00 am and is open to all members at the Balmoral Hotel, Dunmurry, usually on the last Thursday of every month with coffee being served at 10:15 am. We invite a different speaker and do our best to ensure the topics are diverse and interesting.
Coffee and a Chat?
Why not come along to a meeting? You will be made very welcome and we can tell you what we have to offer over a cup of coffee. Go to our Events page to find out about our forthcoming meetings
Magazine and News
With over 1000 members Belfast u3a...
All members receive a national magazine five times per year and local newsletter bi-monthly. The latter contains news of Group activities and monthly meetings.
is part of a wider University of the Third Age movement that exists across the world and is supported in the UK by the Third Age Trust.