The Society was founded in 1821 to promote knowledge in arts sciences and today promotes a lecture programme based at Linen Hall Library, as well as a small publications programme. It also supports research and publications about Ireland and Ulster's cultural and material environment. The Society is custodian of one of Belfast's finest Neo-classical buildings, The Old Museum Building in College Square North and also has connections with the Ulster Museum where it's former collections are housed. The Society hopes to provide a forum for debate on important cultural issues and to reflect the intellectual life of Belfast and Northern Ireland.

The Old Museum Building
Office Holders, including the President, Secretary and Treasurer have met with a committee interested in negotiating a development plan for a Sports Museum which may be located in Old Museum Building. This is headed by Ronnie Spence. They have secured funding for appraising their project. Their time scale would fit in with the move of the Old Museum Arts Centre from the building ie. 2011. It was agreed to seek funding for an Options Appraisal Study by an approved conservation architectural firm

Publications Subcomittee
This has met once on March 3rd 2009 to discuss the idea that Professor Steve Royle might write an account of Belfast from 1750 and it's development up to 1921 or so, to follow on from Raymond Gillespie's very successful Early Belfast (published 2007). He has agreed to write the text for the BNHPS pamphlet series (so approx. 180pp) to be written in 2010 and published in 2011.

LECTURE PROGRAMME 2008/9
The day and time of the lectures are still Wednesdays at 6.30 p.m. and the number of lectures has been increased. Attendance at lectures has been noticeably increasing.

10 September 2008 High Crosses: Ireland’s Greatest Contribution to Europe’s Mediaeval Sculpture by Peter Harbison MRIA
15 October 2008 The Quay to Success: Innovation and Inventions in the Belfast Shipyards by Charlie Warmington, Lagan Legacy
2 November 2008 Down through Time by Mike King, Downpatrick Museum
21 January 2009 Island Archaeology off the North West of Ireland by Wes Forsythe, Marine Archaeology Unit, UUU
11 February 2009 Buildings and Landscapes by David Evans, artist and architect
11 March 2009 Columbkille from a Natural Historian’s Perspective by Sean O’Gaoithin, Foreman and Gardener of Glenveagh National Park.

Outing to Downpatrick Museum, Saul and Struell Wells guided by Mike King and another on Saturday 16 May at 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Society received applications from and funded the following:
The Virtues of a Wicked Earl : The Life and Legend of William Sydney Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim (1806-1878) by A.P. W. Malcomson (publication by Four Courts Press), £1,500 plus £150 towards launch.

An Druma Mor (in English The Big Drum) by Seosamh MacGrianna; for translation, edition, essay on author by A.J. Hughes to be published by Ben Madigan Press £1,000

Angélique Day, Honorary Secretary, June 2009