Sharing Her Story
Walking Tours
Hero of Belfast: Mary Ann McCracken Walking Tour
Experience Mary Ann McCracken’s Belfast, as you walk in the footsteps of this remarkable abolitionist, philanthropist and social reformer. Mary Ann McCracken, who was born over 250 years ago, is intrinsically linked to the city of Belfast. She lived her fearless life championing causes, moving from place to place, always on a mission to make life better for those less fortunate than herself.
Hear too about her more radical nature. Her role in the work of the United Irishmen, the 1798 rebellion and beyond. How she was devoted to her older brother Henry Joy – hanged for his leading role in the rebellion.
This walking tour takes in the locations linked to her life, her endeavours and that of her family. You will be led by an experienced guide through the same streets she walked over 200 years before. This new walking tour starts at Clifton House, where Mary Ann’s thirst for philanthropic causes first began, and where her impact can still be seen today, and finishes near Belfast City Hall.
Click the link below for up to date tour times and prices.
Belfast Heroine’s: Mary Ann McCracken and Martha McTier Walking Tour
Come and learn about Belfast’s heroines, Mary Ann McCracken and Martha McTier. Listen to stories of how these women supported the United Irishmen, helped the poor through their charitable work, with Belfast’s most turbulent events in history as a backdrop to their stories.
Mary Ann McCracken, who was born over 250 years ago, is intrinsically linked to the city of Belfast. She lived her fearless life championing causes, moving from place to place, always on a mission to make life better for those less fortunate than herself. Martha McTier was an advocate in Belfast for women’s health and education, and a supporter of democratic reform. Her correspondence with her brother William Drennan documents the political radicalism and tumult of late eighteenth-century Ulster.
Click the link below for up to date tour times and prices.
Mary Ann's Belfast Map
Follow in the footsteps of Mary Ann McCracken through this newly published map that traces some of the buildings and locations associated with her and the wider Joy and McCracken families. From the historic heart of Belfast where Mary Ann grew up, to her philanthropic work with the Poor House and her final home in Donegall Pass were she died, this map will take you through Mary Ann’s Belfast. Hard copies are available from Clifton House or you can view the interactive map below.
Republished: The life and times of Mary Ann McCracken
The first major piece of work of the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation was republishing a revised edition of Mary Ann’s biography, The Life and Times of Mary Ann McCracken, 1770-1866, A Belfast Panorama (2019) by Mary McNeill. The Foundation believed the 250th anniversary of her birth was the right time to bring the story of this remarkable woman to a wider audience. Author Mary McNeill was also a member of Belfast Charitable Society, and therefore this revised edition recognises both these women and their pivotal roles in the Belfast of their day.
The revised new edition (2019) of the classic biography of Mary Ann McCracken is available to purchase from Clifton House, home of the Belfast Charitable Society or online via Amazon.
Mary Ann McCracken: A life through Art
Mary Ann was a keen supporter of the arts. Through a number of specialist projects, the Foundation have captured her life and legacy through different mediums.
Poetry Workshops
Working with artists, poets and community organisations, the Foundation in 2023 sought to share Mary Ann’s story and advance social justice in the areas of women’s rights, education, and modern-day slavery through poetry workshops.
Through a series of workshops, Anaka Women’s Collective members worked with poets Ruth Carr and Raquel McKee to write a poem about Mary Ann, which can be listened to here.
Mary Ann McCracken Statue in Belfast
On International Women’s Day 2024 a striking bronze statue of Mary Ann McCracken was unveiled at a ceremony at Belfast City Hall.
The statue is located on the front lawn of City Hall. The design reflects the values and activities for which she was best known – she is depicted handing out abolitionist leaflets while wearing a Wedgewood anti-slavery badge.
The statues were sculpted by internationally acclaimed artist Ralf Sander and his daughter Naomi Sander.
The Mary Ann McCracken Foundation was delighted to support the installation of the statue by providing research and knowledge on Mary Ann, including the provision of the inscription which runs around the base.
Norma Sinte, Chair of the Foundation said
Belfast Charitable Society and the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation are delighted that Belfast City Council has honoured the life and legacy of Mary Ann McCracken with the installation of her statue on the grounds of City Hall. The statue’s installation coincides with the 250th anniversary of Clifton House, the building with which Mary Ann and her family were synonymous.
Mary Ann: The Forgotten Sister Play
In April 2024, just following the unveiling of the statue of Mary Ann, Kabosh Theatre Company performed eight sold out performance of the theatrical walking tour, Mary Ann: The Forgotten Sister. Written by Clare McMahon, this theatrical exploration of the life and legacy of Mary Ann McCracken was part funded by the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation and influenced by the research they provided into her life.
By knowing her story you’ll know her. And by knowing her, you’ll feel her compassion, activism and fighting spirit.
Ulster University Fine Art Competition
As part of the 250th anniversary celebrations, Clifton House reached out to the Fine Art degree course at Ulster University and developed a competition to produce and commission a piece of art which epitomised the history of the Society, Mary Ann McCracken, and the house.
Having attended a tour of the house, students then prepared their initial concepts. Three artworks were selected, one of which featured Mary Ann. Madison Henry, a 1st year student, produced an oil painting of Clifton House which brought the interior and exterior history of the building forward, and depicting and acknowledging Mary Ann as an important figure throughout the house’s history. The transparent figure of Mary Ann can be seen through the painting, replicating the colours of the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation. The picture currently hangs within the boardroom at Clifton House.
Mary Ann McCracken: KS2 Education Resource
In 2024 Belfast Charitable Society invested in a Key Stage two Education Resource for primary schools, entitled “One House. Two Stories’, to mark the 250th Anniversary of Clifton House, the former Belfast Poor House.
The resource takes children on a explorative journey of the Belfast Poor House, and also introduces them to the remarkable Mary Ann McCracken, who was so influential in addressing educational disadvantage in Belfast and beyond.
In addition to this, Ulster University’s Science Shop students Hayden McKinstry and Pak Hei Chan (Heidi) also selected Mary Ann McCracken as the subject of their design project incorporating her story and that of the children of the Poor House into the design of interactive games and resources for Key Stage two children.
If you work in a primary school, and are interested in getting a copy of ‘One House, Two Stories’, please contact Clifton House on info@cliftonbelfast.org.uk.
Mary Ann McCracken Talks
As part of the work of the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation to tell Mary Ann’s story, Clifton House regularly hosts talks with guest speakers, experts in their fields.
To launch the Foundation we were extremely privileged to have Professor David Olosuga deliver a key note address, where he challenged the audience to think about how to liberate the historical lives and reputations of abolitionists like Mary Ann McCracken from the cause they were championing. ‘We need to change the conversation and place less emphasis on the people themselves and more on what they fought for’, he said.
Since then the Foundation has hosted events with guest speakers Dr Catriona Kennedy, from University of York; Bee Rowlatt, author; Dr Robyn Atcheson, Queen’s University; Dr Lauren Smyth, Queens University and historian at Clifton House; Dr Cathryn Bronwyn McWilliams, University of South Eastern Norway; Baroness May Blood; Liz Griffith, Law Centre NI; Baroness Margaret Ritchie and Vicky Tennant, UNHCR Representative. Not to mention speakers with real lived experience, including from Anaka Women’s Collective, led by women with direct experience of the asylum system.
For upcoming talks, sign up to our newsletter, follow us on social media or visit our events page.
Private Talks & Tours
In addition to our programmed talks and tours, our staff and volunteers can deliver private walking tours on Mary Ann McCracken or Mary Ann and Martha McTier, another remarkable Belfast woman.
We can also deliver talks in Clifton House or at your venue, on a range of topics, many of which include Mary Ann. See below for our latest menu of talk topics.
To organise a private talk or tour, contact us on 028 9099 7022 or email info@cliftonbelfast.org.uk for more information or to book. Group rates are available.
Mary Ann Notebooks
Mary Ann was an avid writer. She would have spent hours letter writing and documenting her work in committee and record books within the Poor House.
At Clifton House, you can purchase a special Mary Ann notebook, a fitting item to promote her legacy. These beautiful notebooks are made from recycled cotton, recycled card and recycled paper. Once you have filled them with your thoughts and ideas, it can be placed in your recycled bin to starts its life as something else all over again.