In June the NSI held a successful weekend visit to Belfast. A varied programme included stone decay and repair issues in buildings in Belfast and Antrim, visiting an historic quarry, and new initiatives for conservation and repair in Northern Ireland.

On a beautiful, sunny Saturday the group were welcomed to Queen’s University where they enjoyed short presentations on ’The building stones of Northern Ireland’, by Joanne Curran and ’Pollution and stone decay in Belfast’, by Professor Bernie Smith. This was followed by a walking tour of the University area, including the Main University (Lanyon) Building, Fitzroy Church and the Theological College. The morning concluded with a tour of central Belfast, looking at the Customs House, Albert Memorial, St George’s Market and other landmark buildings.

In the afternoon the party were taken by car to Newtownards and Scrabo Quarry, source of Sherwood sandstone, much used in Victorian Belfast. The return journey along the North Down Coast provided the opportunity to visit some coastal exposures. The following day the party set out by car along the East Antrim Coast. The spectacular coastline features rotational failures in Tertiary Basalt and Cretaceous White Limestone overlying Lias Clays. The group was able to see active mass movements and coastal weathering as well as a range of limestone and sandstone buildings.

A short visit was made to Bonamargy Friary at Ballycastle, where Stephen McCabe talked about a project to examine the role of inheritance and complex decay pathways experienced by medieval ecclesiastical buildings in northeast Ireland and southwest Scotland. A visit to Kenbane Castle ruins west of Ballycastle rounded off a marvellous visit.

The NSI would like to thank Prof. Bernard Smith of Queen’s University, Belfast and Dr Joanne Curran of Stone Conservation Services Ltd, for organising and leading a thoroughly enjoyable excursion.