Fears grow as students in Holylands planning huge St. Patrick's Day party

Residents living in the Holylands in Belfast are concerned after it was revealed students living in the area are planning a huge party to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Police clash with students in the Holylands in 2010. Photo: Pacemaker.Police clash with students in the Holylands in 2010. Photo: Pacemaker.
Police clash with students in the Holylands in 2010. Photo: Pacemaker.

One individual has set-up an event page on Facebook and is calling on thousands of party goers to come to the Holylands on St. Patrick’s Day on Friday March 17.

The party is due to start at 9am and run until 12pm, according to the page.

The page states “the world record for the biggest Rock the Boat is 1,701. Can we beat it? More info to be announced.”

The Holylands has a high concentration of young students. This is because of its close proximity to Queen’s University, Belfast.

One resident described the area and some of the students who live there as “it’s Magaluf-type behaviour, like an 18-30 party land”.

“We are working with partner agencies to finalise an action plan and we will share this with Partners and Community Together (PACT) at the end of this month,” said a spokesperson for Belfast City Council.

The anti-social behaviour of some students in the Holylands has become infamous over recent years.

In 2016, police officer was injured when more than 300 revellers gathered in the area in early hours of St. Patrick’s Day.