Take this gentle two-hour walking tour to explore the area in East Belfast where Van Morrison grew up! See the parks where he played, the primary school he went to and the house he first lived in. (There are now plans to open a small museum at Van Morrison’s former home on Hyndford Street.) Many of the streets and place names we encounter, will be familiar from the lyrics of many Van Morrison songs: including The Hollow, ‘Beechie River’, Hyndford St, Cyprus Avenue, Donard Church and more. Van’s home area shaped the musician, and he pays tribute to it and reminisces about it in his songs. The tour will also reference the area’s history and industrial heritage.

A soundtrack of short Van Morrison music clips will be played along the way. Several other musicians with links to this part of the city, will also be mentioned along the way.

Each guest will receive a copy of the ‘Mystic of the East’ booklet, that includes a map of the area, with information on many of the tour’s key stops.

Please meet outside Café Nero at the Eastside Visitor Centre on Newtownards Road ten minutes before the tour start time. The tour will conclude back there. The tour is delivered by Creative Tours Belfast in association with EastSide Partnership, for the Sound of Belfast Festival.

Artwork image by Glen Molloy.