THE JAFFE MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN – NOW LOCATED OUTSIDE THE VICTORIA SHOPPING CENTRE AND BESIDE BITTLES BAR
This is a favourite of mine and believe it or not it has a twin in Limerick known as the Russell Fountain [the only real difference is that one is yellow while the other is red … I prefer yellow].
Otto Jaffe, Belfast’s first and so far only Jewish Lord Mayor, was born in Hamburg on August 13, 1846. His father, Daniel Joseph Jaffe, was a merchant, who came to Belfast to set up a linen export business in 1850.
The Jaffe Brothers were based at Bedford Street in Belfast. Jaffe was educated at Mr Tate’s school in Hollywood, Co Down and spent the decade from 1867 working in New York. He then returned to Belfast in 1877 to take over the management of the family firm.
Jaffe erected the Jaffe Memorial fountain in 1874 to commemorate his father, who had funded the building of Belfast’s first synagogue at Great Victoria Street. Originally sited in Victoria Square, the fountain was surmounted by an ornamental weather vane and was later moved to the Botanic Gardens. Another memorial to Daniel Jaffe, a tall granite obelisk erected in City Cemetery on the Falls Road, has suffered considerable vandalism.
As well as having a successful career in business, Jaffe was a prominent public figure, active in Belfast civic life. His public positions included membership of the Harbour Commission, the Senate of Queen’s College, which later became Queen’s University and the board of Governors of the Royal Hospital. Elected to the town council in 1894, he was Lord Mayor in 1899 and 1904.
Life President of the Belfast Hebrew congregation, Jaffe paid for most of the cost of the community’s new Annesley Street synagogue, near Carlisle Circus and formally opened the building in his guise as the city’s Lord Mayor.
He set up Jaffe Public Elementary School at the corner of both the Cliftonville and Antrim Roads in 1907. However, Jaffe’s philanthropy was poorly rewarded during the first world war when a group of Belfast ladies refused to support the Children’s Hospital if ‘the Germans’, Jaffe and his wife, remained on the board.
This is located on Hawkins Street and as a matter of interest Hawkins House, Dublin’s ugliest buildings, is scheduled to be levelled, three years after its demolition and redevelopment was granted planning permission. My father had an office in the building for about a year and he hated it.
Constable Sheahan was a member of the Dublin Metropolitan Police force. He lost in life in tragic circumstances in May 1905 when he was overcome by deadly gas in the sewers of Dublin as he attempted to rescue unconscious workmen. Sheahan’s heroics touched the heart of native Dubliners, as this young man of only 29 had given everything in an attempt to save others. In 1906 a monument to Sheahan was erected, paid for my public subscription, and placed at the site of the tragedy.
This memorial incorporates a water fountain and for many years I have complained that in general fountains in Dublin appear to lack water and in most cases they are badly maintained. Unfortunately, one of my photographs may explain why fountains in Dublin no longer contain water … they are used as asktrays by people smoking outside pubs.
This particular memorial is well maintained but it should be noted that it has been recently relocated [slightly] to make way for the new Luas tram tracks.
You must be logged in to post a comment.