Time capsule

Time capsule A time capsule – containing items that will be meaningful to future generations – was buried inside Belfast City Hall on 19 October 2009. This was to help celebrate the reopening of City Hall after a £11million refurbishment project

The capsule will have its contents revealed again in 2112 .

We asked members of the public to come up with ideas of everyday objects and images they think should be included. The people who suggested the best ideas were invited to the sealing of the time capsule ceremony on 16 October 2009.

Click on the thumbnails to view larger versions of the photos.

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Picture one: People who submitted the winning suggestions are pictured with Lord Mayor, Councillor Naomi Long.
Picture two: Maura Gallagher suggested adding Metro timetables and ticket.
Picture three: University of Ulster students, who created jewellery to put in the capsule, are pictured with our Artist in Residence Eleanor Wheeler who created the time capsule.
Picture four: Rosemary McNicholl, Geoff Nuttall and Maria Roe from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Northern Ireland suggested adding a field guide to Irish birds and butterflies to show what species were in Ireland in 2009.

Photo of Belfast people

Click for larger version Clare Owens suggested adding a photograph of Belfast citizens outside the City Hall, showing the fashions of the day and the diversity of the people who live in Belfast. We thought this was a great idea and organised for a photo to be taken at the front of City Hall.

The photo represents different races and religions as well as people of different ages.

Click on the thumbnail to view a larger version of the photo.

Best ideas suggested by the public

Ideas for time capsule
Idea submitted by Idea
Neil O’Higgins List of births and deaths from the day requests opened for the time capsule.
Sheila Kerr What About Guide.
City Matters magazine spread about capital buildings opening or reopening in 2009, for example, City Hall, Ulster Hall and St Malachy's Church.
Michelle Taylor Letters from the editors of the three local newspapers.
Clare Owens Information on transport from Translink and the local airports.
A photograph of Belfast citizens outside the City Hall, showing the fashions of the day and diversity of the people who live in Belfast.
David O’Reilly Oh Yeah CD of local music.
Patricia Mathison Local bank notes and coins.
Ray Allen Sports badges from local sporting organisations.
Bridie Davey Local food images, prices and menus to represent the cultural diversity in the city.
Rosemary McNicholl, Geoff Nuttall and Maria Roe
WWF Northern Ireland 		A field guide to Irish birds and butterflies to show what species were in Ireland in 2009.
Karen Dorrian BBC footage of events in 2009.
Nicola Simpson List of proceedings from Laganside Court.
Robert Heslip Environment – information on waste and cleansing.
Bernadette McNally Images and information from the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor, High Sheriff and Chief Executive of Belfast City Council.
Iain Bryson School prospectuses.
Roberta Stevenson A menu or pricelist from a Chinese or Indian takeaway, or from a pizza place.
Eimear Lewis What About Guide.
Noel Higginson Menu from Belfast City Council's Cecil Ward Building canteen and local restaurants.
Maura Gallagher Metro timetables and ticket.
Rachel McIlwaine Samples of up and coming music.
Tom Crossan Day’s newspapers – Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and Newsletter
Jonathan Nugent Bird's eye photograph of Belfast City Hall.
Maire O’Hare Recording of local Belfast bands.
Wayne Funston Images of the murals from Arts Council of Northern Ireland archive.
Diane Spratt and Nicola Thorn Jewellery by University of Ulster students.


Other ideas included: