‘Doing the Needful’ Belfast Charitable Society and its Founding Fathers

The evening of Friday 28th August 1752 was cool in Belfast. After closing their businesses and homes, a group of nineteen merchants, burgesses (councillors) and a vicar, made their way to the George Inn at the corner of North Street and John Street (now Royal Avenue). It was there in the George Inn that these gentlemen formed the Belfast Charitable Society, to tackle poverty and help the poor. Join us at Clifton House, the home of Belfast’s oldest charity, where Aaron McIntyre will discuss the formation of the Belfast Charitable Society and the men who established it.

This year, as part of our 250th Anniversary celebrations, Belfast Charitable Society hope to use our talks and events to help raise funds for our ongoing philanthropic work, therefore we will be offering these free, with a ‘pay what you can’ donation. All funds raised will be used to support those most in need. Thank you in advance for your support.

Aaron D. McIntyre is the former Archive and Heritage Coordinator for Clifton House. He has undertaken extensive research in the Belfast Charitable Society’s archive, dating back from 1752, to develop a series of unique talks, tours and seasonal events to highlight the history of the charity, its people and its role in Belfast and beyond. Aaron holds a bachelor’s degree in archaeology (QUB) and a master’s in museums studies (University of Leicester) and has a particular interest in the social history of Georgian Belfast. Since leaving Clifton House, Aaron is currently working as a research & policy officer, tour guide and amateur genealogist.