Beacon of Hope / Thanksgiving Square
On our trip to Belfast, Erin and I visited Thanksgiving Square, a meaningful space along the River Lagan. Thanksgiving Square is a recent addition to the city, developed in the early 2000s as part of Belfast’s broader waterfront regeneration. This was a time when the city was actively reshaping itself following The Trouble, moving away from decades of conflict and toward a more open, shared civic identity.
The square was officially opened in 2007, and its creation was influenced by the original Thanksgiving Square in Dallas but adapted to Belfast’s own story. At the center stands the Beacon of Hope, designed by Andy Scott. Rather than commemorate a battle or political figure, the city chose to install something to move towards unity and possibility.
Thanksgiving Square was conceived to be a shared reflection, to encourage gratitude rather than remembrance of conflict. It is a symbol of a city choosing healing and reconciliation.
This is not about a single moment in history. This is a city acknowledging where it has been but creating a space for something different.
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