Belfast Harlequins
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| Established | 1999 |
|---|---|
| President | Wes Kettyle |
| Chairman | DC Gillespie |
| Location |
45a Deramore Park Belfast County Antrim BT9 5JX Northern Ireland |
| Colours | Navy, Maroon, Red & Sky Blue |
| Sports | Hockey, Rugby Union & Squash |
Belfast Harlequins is a multi-sports club located off the Malone Road in south Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club name provides the overall umbrella for rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and squash. The club is associated on and off the field with Methodist College Belfast (MCB).
Belfast Harlequins was formed in 1999 with the merger of Collegians, North of Ireland Cricket Club and North of Ireland Football Club. The former clubs were three of the oldest and most distinguished clubs in Ireland. "North" sold its famous ground at Ormeau - one of the earliest international rugby venues - to pay for the redevelopment of the Deramore Park facilities.
The club uses a version of the Maltese cross that MCB uses as its sports logo, with the colours being those of navy, sky blue, red and maroon. The North colours were traditionally red, blue and black, with Collegians using navy, white and maroon.
At two extraordinary general meetings held simultaneously in both North and Collegians, the members of both clubs voted to proceed with the merger to form the new club, Belfast Harlequins. As of 12.00 midnight, 18 November 1999, Belfast Harlequins came into existence. The first annual general meeting of the new club took place in March 2000. The new clubhouse at Deramore was opened in June 2002 by the then club president, Alison Watt, along with Jack Kyle OBE and Gilbert Paton.
On and off the field, all three sections of the Belfast Harlequins set-up have been successful. Pictures and memorabilia of both clubs and grounds is placed around the bar area and throughout the club. There is an active social scene, many parties and events take place throughout the season.
Deramore is located in the heart of south Belfast, flanked by the River Lagan and Lagan Meadows to the east and south, and overlooked to the north and west by large detached homes.
Deramore Park was the home to Collegians (and of Methodist College from 1919 until the school purchased Pirrie Park from Harland & Wolff in 1932). Deramore Park was bequested in trust for the use of the former pupils of Methody for its life by Mr C W Neill in 1941. A special board of trustees exists today in the name of C W Neill, and its consent was required for the merger in 1999, to allow the continued use of Deramore Park by the new club.
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