Ulster Sports Club

Ulster Sports Club

High Street in Belfast is where you can find the Ulster Sports Club. A blink and you’ll miss it bar, club and performance venue. It was founded in 1926 as a literal sports club before being reopened and repurposed as a bar and music venue for both home grown and travelling talent. During the Troubles however, it was a haven of sorts for those who wanted to escape from the violence and sectarianism that was taking place. Tommy Watson, one of the previous club presidents, believed that “represented a place where politics and sectarianism could be forgotten and where friendship was shared among all”. While not being a punk oriented sports club, the impartiality and welcoming nature of Watson and the club putting politics and religion aside shown that there was a hint of punk with the disregard for the violence and sectarianism the Troubles brought to Belfast. Despite the club shutting its doors in 2018 due to financial issues and loss of membership the club came back in 2019 as a music venue. While having upcoming punk and metal talent such as Belfast’s own Alpha Twin, Dutch Tilt and various others who’ve graced the Sports Club with their music, it has also welcomed its fair share of international punks such as Motorama, Snapped Ankles and Black Midi. With Black Midi evening performing at the Hyundai Mercury Prize in 2019.