Belfast Periodicals
Currently running on the first floor of the McClay Library is a display showcasing three periodicals that emerged from Belfast’s cultural scene between the 1970s and the 2000s. The exhibition features Belfast People’s Comic (1977), a short-lived anthology of humorous satirical comics about Northern Ireland in the 1970s, Belfast Review (1982-1987), a literary and cultural journal, and The Vacuum (2003-2014), a satirical take on city life. All three are examples of how Belfast’s creative community have used periodicals over the years to showcase the city’s artistic and literary talent as well as to provide social critiques and alternative perspectives.
These periodicals are available for consultation in the Special Collections Reading Room.
Belfast People’s Comic
The Belfast People’s Comic was a satirical anthology published in Belfast in 1977. Artists who contributed to the comic included John Kindness, Alastair Herron, Davy Francis, John Carson, Liam de Frinse and Cormac (Brian Moore). Contents:
No. 1: Jimmy Ripshite, the man that ate the cooked ham raw — More Than Somewhat — Planxty’s Adventure — Spotting the Difference — “William Stoat”
No. 2: How Moderate Are You? — Council Confrontation — The Three Billys — Belfast Silly Street Poems — The Jubilee Giro –A Country Fable — Wee Jimmy — A Stroll in the Park — Sectarianism Rots Yer Teeth
No. 3: Wee Jimmy — Fatty Gorbo — Save Ulster from Sodomy! — The Colonel Remembers — The Ballad of Yukon Bill — Street Life (life and death issues on the pavements of Belfast) — The Lads Go For a Jar — Boom Chikka Boom Chikka Boom Chikka Boom — H Block: Who Cares? – Just a Song at Twilight (also one poster: Santa says: Consume [and] Jesus Saves)
Belfast Review
The Belfast Review was a literary and cultural journal which first appeared at Christmas 1982 and ran until the late 1980s. Founding editor was the poet, playwright, filmmaker and community activist Damian Gorman. In his first opinion column, Gorman noted that the magazine was to appear four times a year, with the aim “to reflect the artistic and physical life of the city of Belfast”. He intended for the poetry supplement and book review sections to be a constant feature of the Review, but the editorial policy was otherwise flexible since “the first duty of a magazine is to entertain”.
The Vacuum
The Vacuum was a free newspaper published in Belfast by the arts organisation Factotum. Each issue was centred on a single theme, around which writers and artists were commissioned to produce articles and illustrations. These were often satirical or farcical in nature, challenging stereotypes of Belfast and ridiculing influential political or religious figures. Monthly issues were produced from 2003 to April 2004 when a deliberately started fire in North Street Arcade gutted the offices of Factotum and several other organisations. No individual has ever been charged with the arson.
After a brief interlude, two issues were published simultaneously later in 2004 on the themes of ‘God’ and ‘Satan’. Controversially, Belfast City Council condemned them as “an insult to both Catholics and Protestants” and withdrew the paper’s funding. In response The Vacuum sarcastically titled their next issue ‘Sorry’, in which the theme was contrition, and held a ‘Sorry Day’ in the city centre.