Braniel

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The Braniel is a large housing estate on the outskirts of east Belfast, Northern Ireland. Although officially called Braniel, most locals add a "The" before the name.

It is the former home of Michael Stone, infamous for his gun and grenade assault on an IRA funeral in Milltown Cemetery, West Belfast. Jim Gray, the assassinated UDA leader, also lived in the Braniel.

It is a predominantly Protestant area, with the majority of residents being loyalist or unionist. The Braniel avoided much of the violence suffered by other areas in Belfast, perhaps due to the absence of nearby nationalist neighbourhoods.^{[citation needed]}

Suburban and exurban forces affect the area, and many residents of the Braniel will have as strong family and employment links to the towns of Ballygowan, Newtownards, Comber or Bangor as they do to Belfast. The relative ease of transit, convenience to retail stores and schools, and the availability of a range of lower to middle income housing make the area an attractive place for families and first time buyers.