Braniel or The Braniel is a large housing estate and

townland A townland ( ga, baile fearainn; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a small geographical division of land, historically and currently used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of Gaelic origi ...

in southeast

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

, Northern Ireland. It is in the

barony Barony may refer to: * Barony, the peerage, office of, or territory held by a baron * Barony, the title and land held in fealty by a feudal baron * Barony (county division), a type of administrative or geographical division in parts of the British ...

of Castlereagh Upper and parish of Knockbreda in

County Down County Down () is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It covers an area of and has a population of 531,665. It borders County Antrim to the ...

. Two small developments, Roddens and Glenview, are located in the area, and are often referred to the Braniel. It is a predominantly unionist area.

History

The name 'Braniel' comes from the

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

''Broinngheal'' ("bright front") or ''Bruach Uí Néill'' ("O'Neill's slope/bank"). These likely refer to Braniel Hill. The Entrance to the Braniel is via the Knock Road and the Ballygowan Road or through the Gilnahirk route. Nearby estates include Church Road (Rosewood, Rosemount, Gray Castle, Marlborough), Gilnahirk, Tullycarnet,

Clarawood Clarawood is a housing estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is located in the east of the city and incorporates the neighbouring Richhill development. Its name is probably derived from ''An Chlárach'' (). It is located off Knock Road (A55). ...

, Clonduff, Casaeldona and Cregagh. In 2001, a man was murdered on Ravenswood Park, at the end entering the Braniel Square. In 2008, a man was stabbed on Whincroft Road, one of the main roads into ''Braniel Square''. A 28-year-old man was then arrested and given bail following the event. On 13 March 2012, a man drove through the front of a house on Whincroft Road. No further details have been released at this time though it is believed the man had a heart attack or blacked out at the steering wheel of his Citroen Picasso before driving through the front of 13 Whincroft Road.

Fires

2009

On 11 April 2009 Braniel Primary school was set on fire by arsonists. The fire started in a bin area at the side of the school and spread to the roof of the school. It was extinguished and only the bin area, fencing and roof were damaged. The School assembly hall was also slightly damaged inside. The fire cost around £10,000 in damages.

2011

On 7 January 2011, a flat in the estate caught fire, a baby inside and four other people were saved.

Services

*Braniel Primary School, educates over 400 children. *Braniel Church, which hosts both a Methodist and Presbyterian congregation. Braniel Church - geograph

*Braniel Football Pitch, re-placed the Braniel Bowling Green *Braniel Community Centre, for community events and other activities. The B.C.A hold events and meetings here. *Braniel Bowling Green, 1980s – 2011, removed in favour of a new football pitch. *Braniel Library, Closed 2010, a mobile Library now visits the car park at the Glenside Shops. *Braniel Football Club, various football teams *Braniel Community Church, located at St Brigid's Hall on the Lower Braniel Road *Braniel Fight Club (1998-2017)

Parks

*Carema Allen Memorial Park, at the top of the estate. Better known as Braniel Park or Sam's Park. *Roddens Park, Located in Roddens. Not to be confused with a nearby street with the same name.

Notable people

* Michael Stone, best known for the

Milltown Cemetery attack The Milltown Cemetery attack (also known as the Milltown Cemetery killings or Milltown massacre) took place on 16 March 1988 at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast, Northern Ireland. During the large funeral of three Provisional IRA members killed ...

and trying to break into the Parliament Buildings. * John Wilson, drummer in many bands, including Taste grew up on the estate.

Current

Jude Campbell - Professional Fist-fighter

Dreamscheme: Braniel

In 2009, the Braniel Dreamscheme painted a new mural over an old graffitied wall near the Braniel Park, on the back of the Braniel row of shops. The Dreamscheme is still an ongoing activity in the estate.

References

{{County Down Housing estates in Northern Ireland Geography of Belfast Townlands of County Down Wards of Northern Ireland Civil parish of Knockbreda