The Samson & Goliath Cranes — Attraction in Belfast

Seeing these gantries that dominate the city skyline up close allows you to appreciate their sheer scale and discern details missed from a distance. The patches of rust interrupting the vibrant yellow, the geometric Krupp logo on Goliath's end, the high windows in the red boxes that sit on top of both. These cranes are ever present in the consciousness of the citizens of Belfast, a constant steadfast feature, instantly recognisable landmarks and symbols of heavy industry so prevalent in the city's past. By night, the glow of red lights at their highest points provide illumination for planes landing and taking off from the nearby George Best City airport. The cranes do move, though I've never seen this happening....

I'm not so sure why Belfast treats these two gantry cranes as if they are national monuments. It's probably just me. But as a tourist, there isn't anything too interesting about these cranes.

They are huge industrial gantries but they are on an active workspace so access to the cranes is not allowed for tourists. You can't go atop them. The cranes also mostly lie stationary on site and don't do much work.

The huge size of the gantries do make good photos shoots, although I suspect similar sized gantries can probably be found in almost any modern harbour with high...

While there’s nothing to do here. Seeing these cranes up close (from the fence) has definitely been a highlight of my trip, week, year, lifetime! They’re incredibly impressive. No photo can do these justice. They’re just so big and imposing. If you’re in the area and you love machines like me, definitely take the short walk. They’re just so...