Join us for a wild garlic pesto and fresh pasta making workshop this Wednesday (6-7pm) in the Mission to Seafarers kitchen with artist Thomas Wells and food educator and forager Clare McQuillan. Find out more about Sailortown’s Little Italy connection and make and taste food with local and international ingredients inspired by the neighbourhood. This is a free event for people of all cooking abilities with limited places so get in touch at info@householdbelfast.co.uk to book your place

Italians settled in an around Sailortown in the latter half of the 19th century in search of work in the city. This area soon became known as Little Italy, and the people that lived there worked in the existing linen, bleaching and printing industries at a time when Belfast was one of the fastest growing industrial cities in the world. They also contributed unique artistic skills such as sculpturing and plastering, laid beautiful terrazzo floors, and opened Italian ice cream parlours. Though the Little Italy neighbourhood no longer exists, this community and its descendants have made an important contribution to Belfast.