100 years ago today, May 31, 1911, the Titanic was launched into the Belfast lough (bay) at 12:13 p.m. It was owned by the White Star Line and built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard, largest in the world.

There was a big celebration of this event in Belfast today, including school children dressed as boat workers.

For many years, Belfast didn't celebrate the Titanic. "We shied away because of a sense of shock, then shame, then embarrassment. A few years ago we realised the rest of the world was fascinated and we were missing out. We had a great story to share and are now preparing to do that with the new visitor attraction. It is not a disaster story, it is the positive story of innovation and endeavour."

Someone else said: "Our slogan now is: The Titanic: it was fine when it left Belfast."

Gotta love that Irish sense of humor.