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The fascinating story of a sunken cemetery wall built to separate Catholics and Protestants in death will be retold through a multi-million pound project.

More than £2million will be invested in the redevelopment of the City Cemetery in West Belfast - home to Northern Ireland's only Jewish burial ground - as a visitor attraction.

Headstones and monuments at the historic graveyard represent people across the city during the golden age of industrialisation in Belfast.

Belfast City Council will build a visitor centre in the unique cemetery, which also contains a number of war dead, after securing £1.68million of Heritage Lottery Funding towards its £2.28million project.

Over the next three years, the council will create the visitor and education centre, restore historical monuments, enhance the rich biodiversity of the site and create outreach events to involve people in the period of the project and beyond.

This project aims to encourage people, both local and visitors to the city, to explore City Cemetery.

Alderman Jim Rodgers, chair of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, said: “City Cemetery is a real hidden gem with a fantastic story to tell.

"It is the final resting place of many noted figures from the city’s past, including Edward Harland, ‘Tobacco King’ Thomas Gallaher and Margaret Byers, pioneer of women’s education and founder of Victoria College.

“The many fascinating and unique features within its walls include the only Jewish burial ground of its kind in Ireland, and an underground wall which - while never used for its intended purpose - was built to separate Catholic and Protestant graves.

"There are also a total of 11 listed features including the central steps and vaults, Victorian fountain and superintendent’s house.”

He added: “This project will ensure that these unique features are preserved for future generations and that the story of the cemetery is told.”

Plans include the creation of a multi-media exhibition where visitors can learn more about the history and the people of the cemetery. And those keen to explore their family tree will be able to access burial records and archives in the visitor centre.

Paul Mullan, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland, said: “We often think of cemeteries as places for the dead, but our parks and cemeteries provide vital connections to our history, our community and our natural heritage.

"Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant will support vital restorations right across this extraordinary cemetery, saving monuments at risk, and maximising its potential as a green space.”

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