Belfasts

Belfasts is a plural noun used in geography and toponymy to refer to multiple settlements that share the name Belfast. The most prominent example is Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, a major economic and cultural center on the island of Ireland.

Etymology: The name Belfast comes from the Irish Béal Feirste, traditionally translated as “mouth of the sand-bank” or “mouth of the Farset” river, reflecting its location at the mouths of rivers and its early harbor. The plural Belfasts appears in references that distinguish among several places named Belfast around the world.

Geographic distribution: Beyond Belfast, Northern Ireland, several smaller Belfasts exist, particularly in North America. The best known is Belfast, Maine, a coastal town in the United States with a maritime heritage and a historic downtown. Other Belfasts have been established in the United States, named by settlers in reference to the Irish city.

See also: Belfast (disambiguation).