“Aged 18, and against her parents’ wishes, Emily Gibson married Pasquali Desano, on 11 January, 1932. A taste of Italy: Pasquali was an Italian immigrant, a widower, and 25 years older than Emily. They lived at 147 Newtownards Road and ran an ice cream shop next door at No 145. A door hidden behind a bookcase connected the two properties. Pasquali, born in Cassino, Italy in 1887, came to Belfast around 1904-5. He became part of a small but substantial community of Italians already living here. Italian ice cream was a well-established tradition in Belfast since the start of the 20th century. Ice cream shops, owned by descendants of Italians such as Desano, Fusco, Morelli and Rossi, still exist over 100 years since first appearing on the streets of Belfast. You might even come across one on this trail. In 1940, once Italy declared war on Britain, Italians living here were sent to internment camps. It is believed that Pasquali obtained naturalisation and was able to remain. Living so close to the shipyard and docks, the family could not escape the Belfast Blitz (7th April – 6th May 1941). Wesbourne Presbyterian Church was badly hit and, like many of their neighbours, they evacuated to the Saintfield area. Pasquali died on 9th November 1951, aged 64. Emily died on 15 DEcember 2018 aged 105. She lived through two world wars, saw women gain equal voting rights, the partition of Ireland, the ‘Troubles’, and Belfast’s regeneration. Her secret to a long life? ‘Don’t drink, don’t smoke, eat salmon and soy sauce!’ Though I’m sure the Italian ice cream also played a part.”

The info sign is on the railings of Westbourne Presbyterian; the graphic is on a courtyard wall.

Other entries in the Eastside Lives Heritage Trail include Miss McMinn’s Girls’ Club | The Godfather Of Legal Betting | No Ordinary Woman | Two Smart Alecs. For a list of all fourteen, see the Trail’s pamphlet (pdf).

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