The Lagan - River of Northern Ireland • Go-to-Ireland.com

The Lagan is the name of a river in Northern Ireland. It rises on the Slieve Croob mountain in County Down, meanders through County Antrim, then flows through Belfast and into the Atlantic Ocean at Belfast Lough.

Discover Lagan

A river on the move

With a length of 86km, the Lagan River is currently undergoing a major transformation. Initially over-polluted, its shores served only as industrial quarters for the city of Belfast. Sad, dreary, idle neighborhoods, where the people of Belfast were reluctant to enter.

However, a vast project launched in 1987 has rehabilitated the river and revitalized the old, abandoned districts. A major campaign has been launched to redevelop the riverbanks and make the area as fashionable as possible!

Places to discover on the banks of the Lagan

Obel Tower is an 80-metre-high tower built in 2010. A true symbol of renewal!
the Big Fish is a monument featuring a gigantic blue fish. Covered in ceramic, it is now one of Belfast’s most prominent symbols!
the Beacon of Hope: a 20-metre-high metal statue. A symbol of hope, it depicts a woman holding a circle at arm’s length!
the Sheep on the Road: these bronze statues represent a shepherd and his sheep, in memory of the livestock market that once took place on Lanyon Place.
the Titanic Quarter: a huge district named in tribute to the Titanic (the liner was built here). Here you can admire the dry dock where the Titanic was built: Titanic’s Dock and Pump-House. And don’t miss the famous Titanic Belfast Experience, a museum dedicated to the liner, and a visit to the SS Nomadic. Other attractions in the Titanic Quarter include the W5 Interactive Discovery Centre, a fun museum dedicated to science!

Fishing on the Lagan River

The river is currently in the midst of a major redevelopment project: it is currently being cleaned up, and over the next few years will undergo a vast salmon restocking project. For the time being, therefore, we advise against fishing: let nature take its course!