Many technological wonders that are used day in and day out were first coined here, with some people not realising they originated from Northern Ireland’s capital.
From soccer trademarks to sweet treats and more, Belfast has remained a hub of inventive creativity throughout the decades for devices that, to this day, have produced items used for all sorts of purposes, ranging from saving lives to hydrating entire cities.
We use all sorts of inventions every day, and here are some that were the work of people with connections to Northern Ireland.
1. Portable defibrillator
Frank Pantridge, dubbed the ‘Father of Emergency Medicine’, was a native of Hillsborough, and after serving as a prisoner of war in Singapore, went to work for Queen’s University’s pathology department, where he first developed the defibrillator. Pantridge installed his first version in a Belfast ambulance in 1965, after seeing the need to urgently treat cardiac patients, with the aptly named ‘Pantridge Plan’ saving countless lives across the world since. Photo: pexels.com
2. Ulster overcoat
Who knew that Sherlock Holmes’ attire of choice came from Belfast? James Getty McGee owned both a shop on the city’s High Street and the Ulster Overcoat Company - from which he fashioned the distinctive double-breasted jacket made from Donegal tweed. Pleats, pockets, and a belt complete the look, with an optional cape for extra flair. The outfit reached the peak of its popularity in the late 1880s, and can still be spotted amongst the occasional smartly dressed individual. Photo: alipko - stock.adobe.com
3. The Kelvin Scale
William Thomson was born in College Square East in July 1824 and famously determined a lower limit to temperature (absolute zero) -273.15 degrees Celsius. A Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow for 53 years, he was awarded the title of Lord Kelvin in 1866 after calculating the thickness of the world’s first-ever transatlantic telegraph cable - for this work he received a knighthood from Queen Victoria. Lord Kelvin also invented the reversible heat engine that forms the basis for today’s refrigeration techniques. The compasses that are fitted to every British naval ship also correspond to Thomson’s design. Photo: pexels.com
4. Pneumatic tyres
Born in Scotland in 1840, John Dunlop moved to Ireland in 1867 and invented one of the most consequential forms of transportation purely for one of his children. His young son had asked John to make the solid rubber wheels of his tricycle more comfortable for navigating the bumpy streets of Belfast. John Dunlop’s solution may appear seemingly simple now but was unheard of at the time - he simply filled the tyres with air from his garden hose. The tyres soon became the brand of choice for cycle races and, eventually, racing cars. Photo: pexels.com