Braniel

Braniel or The Braniel is a large housing estate and townland in southeast Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is in the barony of Castlereagh Upper and parish of Knockbreda in County Down.[2] Two small developments, Roddens and Glenview, are located in the area, and are often referred to the Braniel. It is a predominantly unionist area.

Braniel
Braniel is located in County Down
Braniel
Braniel
Location within County Down
Population4,741 (2011 Census)
County
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBelfast
Postcode districtBT5
Dialling code028
PoliceNorthern Ireland
FireNorthern Ireland
AmbulanceNorthern Ireland
UK Parliament
NI Assembly

History

The name 'Braniel' comes from the Irish Broinngheal ("bright front")[2] or Bruach Uí Néill ("O'Neill's slope/bank").[3] These likely refer to Braniel Hill.

The Entrance to the Braniel is via the Knock Road and the Ballygowan Road or through the Gilnahirk route. Nearby estates include Church Road (Rosewood, Rosemount, Gray Castle, Marlborough), Gilnahirk, Tullycarnet, Clarawood, Clonduff, Casaeldona and Cregagh. In 2001, a man was murdered on Ravenswood Park, at the end entering the Braniel Square.[4] In 2008, a man was stabbed on Whincroft Road, one of the main roads into Braniel Square. A 28-year-old man was then arrested and given bail following the event.[5][6][7][8] On 13 March 2012, a man drove through the front of a house on Whincroft Road. No further details have been released at this time though it is believed the man had a heart attack or blacked out at the steering wheel of his Citroen Picasso before driving through the front of 13 Whincroft Road.[9][10]

2009

On 11 April 2009 Braniel Primary school was set on fire by arsonists. The fire started in a bin area at the side of the school and spread to the roof of the school. It was extinguished and only the bin area, fencing and roof were damaged. The School assembly hall was also slightly damaged inside. The fire cost around £10,000 in damages.[11][12][13][14]

2011

On 7 January 2011, a flat in the estate caught fire, a baby inside and four other people were saved.[15][16][17][18]

Services
  • Braniel Primary School, educates over 400 children.[19]
  • Braniel Church, which hosts both a Methodist and Presbyterian congregation.[20]
Braniel Church in 2005
  • Braniel Football Pitch, re-placed the Braniel Bowling Green
  • Braniel Community Centre, for community events and other activities. The B.C.A hold events and meetings here.[21]
  • Braniel Bowling Green, 1980s – 2011, removed in favour of a new football pitch.
  • Braniel Library, Closed 2010, a mobile Library now visits the car park at the Glenside Shops.[22]
  • Braniel Football Club, various football teams
  • Braniel Community Church, located at St Brigid's Hall on the Lower Braniel Road[23]
  • Braniel Fight Club (1998-2017)

Parks
  • Carema Allen Memorial Park, at the top of the estate. Better known as Braniel Park or Sam's Park.
  • Roddens Park, Located in Roddens. Not to be confused with a nearby street with the same name.

Notable people

Current

Jude Campbell - Professional Fist-fighter

Dreamscheme: Braniel

In 2009, the Braniel Dreamscheme painted a new mural over an old graffitied wall near the Braniel Park, on the back of the Braniel row of shops.[27] The Dreamscheme is still an ongoing activity in the estate.

References
  1. "Placenames Database of Ireland". Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  2. "The Place-names of Northern Ireland". Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  3. The Gaelic Placenames of Belfast Archived 23 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine. ULTACH Trust.
  4. "NORTHERN IRELAND | Man denies murder charge". BBC News. 12 November 2001. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  5. "UK | Northern Ireland | Man held over stabbing given bail". BBC News. 21 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  6. "UTV News – Arrest after Castlereagh stabbing". U.tv. 21 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  7. "Man arrested after city stabbing | San Francisco Luxury Living". Sfluxe.com. 20 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  8. sotiris (20 December 2008). "Man arrested after city stabbing". Scrapbookinghowtostartyourown.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  9. "Car crashes into house in Belfast". UTV. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  10. "Family escape injury after car crashes into front of east Belfast house". BBC News. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  11. "Outrage as school is targeted by arsonists – East Belfast, Community Telegraph". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  12. "UK | Northern Ireland | Arsonists target primary school". BBC News. 12 April 2009. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  13. "Primary school targeted by arsonists – Local". News Letter. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  14. "UTV News – Arsonists attack school". U.tv. 12 April 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  15. "BBC News – Baby is rescued from fire at flat in Braniel estate". BBC. 7 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  16. "Long shocked at fire in Braniel (The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland)". Allianceparty.org. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  17. "Baby is rescued from fire at flat in Braniel estate". Fire.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  18. "UTV News – Baby rescued from blaze in flat". U.tv. 7 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  19. "Home Page :: Braniel Primary School, Belfast, United Kingdom". Branielps.com. 14 October 2011. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  20. "Home". Branielchurch.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  21. "Braniel Community-Association". Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  22. "librariesni.org.uk – Braniel Library". Ni-libraries.net. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  23. "Braniel Community Church - Home". Facebook. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  24. "BBC ON THIS DAY | 24 | 2000: Loyalist killer Michael Stone freed from Maze". BBC News. 24 July 1974. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  25. Lee Glendinning and agencies (8 December 2008). "Loyalist killer Michael Stone jailed for 16 years". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  26. "BBC ON THIS DAY | 16 | 1988: Three shot dead at Milltown Cemetery". BBC News. 16 March 1988. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  27. "Graffiti wall transformed – News, East Belfast". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 18 March 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
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